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Archive for July, 2010

Why do Teeth Darken?

Wednesday, July 7th, 2010

The main cause of teeth darkening is pigments we put in our mouths. Many times a day we may drink pigmented fluids such as tea, coffee, red wine, cranberry juice, and cola drinks; and many times a day we eat pigmented foods such as blackberries, cherries, ketchup, and soy sauce.

Anything that stains the lips or tongue will also stain the teeth – even dyes added to popular treats like popsicles. These pigments cause yellow, brown or orange staining.

Tobacco use – Tobacco causes a yellow-brown staining on the teeth, just as it does in the skin. Quitting is the best thing to do, but of course, that can be very difficult for a person with an established habit.

Too much fluoride – this is sometimes a cause, especially in children. This condition is known as fluorosis. It can cause white streaks across the teeth but depending on the amount of fluoride, there can be brown stains. A child may be exposed to this danger, between fluoridated water, fluoridated toothpaste (that may often be swallowed by young children), and bottled juice and juice-flavored drinks made with fluoridated water.

Aging – the simple passage of time is also a cause of teeth staining. Over the years, our teeth become yellower and darker because the enamel layer becomes thinner from wear and tear. That allows the yellow dentin layer to show through the translucent enamel. As we age, the dentin itself becomes darker.

With excellent dental hygiene and a nutritious diet with fresh vegetables, we can remove or prevent much staining. Lettuce, broccoli, and spinach help to prevent tooth staining because they put a film on the teeth that acts as a barrier. Avoidance of commercial foods containing dyes will help.

Something to keep in mind is that tooth color is determined by genetics and some people naturally have whiter teeth than others. If you have a teeth whitening treatment, it may not be possible to make your teeth whiter than your genetics dictate. However, darkening caused by foods and drinks can certainly be corrected and most people who have a BriteSmile tooth whitening procedure at our Beverly Hills dental office leave after about an hour feeling quite euphoric about the dramatic improvement in their smile.

If you are in the Beverly Hills, California area, and would like a free consultation with Dr. Sands, please call or email our office today.

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