How to Resolve a Discoloured Tooth
With a bright white smile being the end goal for a lot of us, there’s something about tooth discolouration that makes some people more self-conscious about their smile when they are out and about. Although a discoloured tooth is normal and in fact very common, there are a few ways to help get your smile back to how it was so you can feel your best again.
Nowadays, there are endless whitening treatments on the shelves and home remedies circling the internet which are leaving us all desperately trying to tackle a discoloured tooth at home, often not providing the results we had hoped for. Instead of spending your money trying endless products out, here’s what you need to know to help you get your teeth back to how they used to be.
The Common Reasons Behind Tooth Discolouration
There is an array of reasons as to why your teeth may darken and many of these are out of our control, being a normal part of life. Your dentist is an obvious first port of call, being able to provide more insight as to whether you’re facing a discoloured tooth as a natural part of ageing or whether there is more to it, being affected by your lifestyle. In many cases, reversing teeth stains is within our capabilities and if you take good care of your oral health, you can maintain a glowing smile for years to come.
Here are some of the most common reasons for tooth discolouration:
Food and drink
Common culprits include coffee, tea, cola, red wine sometimes starchy foods such as pasta or potatoes. To avoid staining, it is recommended to brush your teeth after tucking into these foods or drinks.
Tobacco
Regular smokers or those who chew tobacco are known to face tooth discolouration, leaving yellow stains on the teeth over time.
Poor dental hygiene
Failing to regularly brush and floss your teeth can cause plaque and food stains to build up. Regularly visiting the dentist to keep on top of oral hygiene is key to tackling any signs of issue that may begin to arise.
Ageing
As you get older, the outer layer of enamel on your teeth gets worn away which exposes the yellow beneath. The translucency of the tooth also reduces, making it appear darker as your body ages.
Family genetics
Being well out of our control, some families are simply much more prone to having a discoloured tooth. Thicker and whiter enamel runs in some families but not all of us are lucky enough to have this gene!
Past trauma
Even though any childhood incidents or past sports injuries may seem in the past, the damage can affect the enamel and the trauma can come back to cause a discoloured tooth in later years.
How to Treat a Discoloured Tooth
Although in many cases tooth discolouration is perfectly normal and doesn’t affect your healthy teeth, some people prefer to take measures that bring back their previous tooth colour. There are various whitening methods out there and although certain treatments may not be applicable in certain cases, you can pick out the approach that works best for your situation.
Methods to try at home
Before you start looking to the professionals for help, there are various methods you can try out from the comfort of your own home, saving you the hassle and cost of going elsewhere. Avoiding the usual suspects such as tea, coffee, and red wine, in your diet is a great place to start, or alternatively, make sure to brush your teeth after enjoying them as a treat. Another important factor is your daily hygiene; you should be brushing and flossing your teeth twice a day, maintaining a clean mouth and preventing the build up of any new stains or plaque.
Professional dental treatments
If you’re looking for more noticeable results to tackle your discoloured tooth, professional treatments are available which can provide long lasting results. Turkey dental treatment is a popular approach as it means people can achieve their dream smile with more affordable price points than other countries in the world. Teeth whitening in Turkey is one of the most common procedures, using gels that penetrate the teeth and budge tough stains so people can achieve quick results that brighten up their smile. Being much more effective than self-application teeth whitening kits, working alongside a professional will help achieve tailored results that last.