Why Do Teeth Darken?

    CHICAGO, IL, May 22, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Loads of people envy the sparkling white smiles that grace the mouths of celebrities on television, on the big screen and in magazines. The truth is that most of these individuals have help achieving dazzling white teeth. Dentist-performed whitening treatments, porcelain veneers, dental bonding, professional at-home whitening systems and even whitening toothpastes all help to improve tooth discolorations that can naturally occur to everyone, regardless of social status or wealth.

Simple Tooth Anatomy

Teeth are made up of four main elements:
• Pulp: nerves and blood vessels in the tooth's soft center
• Cementum: a soft, yellowish bony tissue that protects the tooth root and provides stability
• Dentin: a hard, yellowish layer under the enamel that protects the tooth
• Enamel: the hard visible tooth layer that protects the tooth from environmental factors

Every person's tooth enamel color is slightly different, ranging in color from different shades of white, yellow or gray. There are also various levels of translucency in the enamel, which differs for every person and depends on each person's own unique genetic make-up. Because of this translucency, the yellowish-colored dentin layer can show through, creating less-than-perfect white teeth.

Reasons for Tooth Darkening

There are many different reasons why teeth can become darkened or discolored. As a person ages, the teeth have more time to succumb to environmental factors or enamel loss which is why many older individuals are plagued with yellow or grey-tinted teeth. Some common causes of tooth darkening include:
• Food or drink stains from coffee, soda, wine, tea, blueberries or other acidic foods
• Smoking or tobacco use
• Accidents that cause trauma to the tooth nerves
• Genetic defects
• Flurosis or excessive fluoride use
• Failure to brush and floss regularly to remove plaque and stains
• Root canals which can damage the tooth nerves
• Certain medications, including the antibiotic tetracycline when it is administered to children whose teeth are still forming enamel
• Diseases, nutritional deficiencies, infections or medical treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation
• Silver mercury fillings, which can darken over time
• Food and drink temperature changes, which cause teeth to contract and expand and allow stains to penetrate the enamel

Prevention of Tooth Darkening
Certain types of tooth darkening can be prevented. By changing habits, such as quitting smoking or avoiding staining foods and drinks, some tooth discoloration can be prevented. Regular trips to the dentist as well as daily brushing and flossing will also go a long way toward maintaining a brighter smile.

It is a fact that genetics play a large role in the whiteness of teeth, and some discoloration is simply out of a person's control. This is where cosmetic dentists can step in and offer tooth whitening alternatives like the options listed earlier.

If you are embarrassed or self-conscious about the color of your teeth and would like to learn more about the whitening options available, please visit the website of Chicago-based Colonial Dental Group. A free tooth whitening consultation can show you just how dazzling your smile can be.

Source: Colonial Dental Group
Website: http://www.colonialdentalgroup.com

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