In 2020 alone, 37 million Americans used tooth whiteners, and the popularity of whitening teeth is forecasted to rise. It’s no secret that American society glamorizes a bright, white smile. When you watch TV, scroll through social media, and flip through glossy magazine pages, do you feel self-conscious about the way your smile looks? Are you worried that there may be a hidden reason why you don’t have perfect pearly whites?

From age to genetics to diet, there are many reasons why your teeth may appear a little darker or yellow. Here, our Atlanta Cosmetic Dentist, Dr. Abbey J. Lee, explains what factors could be impacting the color of your teeth and if the color of your teeth is an indicator of poor health.

White Teeth

When your body is young and developing, your teeth are the whitest. One reason why a baby’s smile is so sweet is because of how white their teeth are, and we can primarily blame dentin. Dentin is the hard, inner part of the teeth that is primarily responsible for dental color. Naturally, a child’s dentin is much lighter than matured dentin. Thus, the light yellow, off-white dentin in baby teeth is visible through translucent white enamel. Additionally, baby teeth are more calcified than permanent adult teeth.

Light Yellow or Gray Teeth

As people get older and lose their baby teeth, you might notice that their smiles aren’t as pearly as before. Adult teeth are inherently darker than baby teeth due to their structure. Specifically, permanent teeth are composed of significantly more dentin than primary teeth, impacting the color of adult teeth. Also, dentin darkens with age. So, aged dentin is more likely to shine through the translucent enamel. Thus, making your teeth seem slightly yellow or gray.

Yellow Teeth

While yellow teeth can be due to darkening dentin, yellowing teeth typically indicate staining from your diet, habits, and health.

Diet

If you’re an avid coffee, tea, or red wine drinker, you might notice the effect of tannins, which are potent pigments that attach to your enamel. Over time, this can lead to long-term discoloration.

Habits

Poor oral hygiene can cause yellow teeth as plaque and tartar accumulate. Yet, even the most diligent brushers and flossers might develop discolored teeth due to age, diet, or other factors.

Additionally, nearly one-third of smokers report having moderate to severe tooth discoloration. So, if you want white teeth and have a smoking habit, our Atlanta Cosmetic Dentist strongly suggests kicking tobacco use to the curb.

Health

Also, some side effects of certain prescription medications and medical conditions result in stained teeth. For example, patients undergoing chemotherapy for head or neck cancers may develop discolored teeth.

Brown Teeth

Have you recently noticed brown spots on your teeth? Then, you should schedule an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible. Brown spots might indicate tooth decay.

Likewise, yellow stains that worsen turn brown. Age, tobacco use, and even genetics could cause your teeth to darken.

Our Atlanta Cosmetic Dentist can help you achieve an ideal bright, white smile!

As you can see, there’s no one-size-fits-all reason that your teeth are the color they are. Once you’ve decided that it’s time to invest in a whiter, brighter smile, several treatment options can help you accomplish your goal.

First, Dr. Lee recommends a round of routine cleaning to remove caked-on plaque and tartar that can make the teeth seem yellow. Then, our Atlanta Cosmetic Dentist might recommend in-office chairside whitening, take-home trays, or a more intensive cosmetic dentistry solution to conceal your stains. Call 404-328-7177 or message us online to learn more about our whitening services and specials.