Exploring Oral Health Symptoms, Issues and Solutions

What Triggers Tooth Discolouration?

Having discoloured teeth can make a person shy away from engaging in discussions they'd love to be part of by making them feel too embarrassed to speak to others. Thankfully, a dentist who practices cosmetic dentistry can always provide a solution for the problem once they have examined the patient.

If your adult teeth still have their natural colour but you are concerned that they might become discoloured over time, then you need to be informed about what causes the problem so you can prevent it if you can.

Tooth discolouration can be caused by many different things. Here are some common ones that you should know about:

Bad oral hygiene: Persistent failure to brush and floss your teeth thoroughly and regularly will lead to tooth discolouration due to excess buildup of plaque and tartar on the teeth. With time, you will start to notice that your teeth are turning yellow. In addition, poor oral hygiene can cause periodontal disease, which may accelerate the rate of tooth discolouration by eroding the enamel and dentin. Therefore, maintaining proper oral hygiene is critical to ensuring that your teeth retain their natural colour — white.

Tobacco smoking: If smoking tobacco is one of your guilty pleasures, then you should know that it is not just your lungs that you are putting at risk, but also your teeth. This is because prolonged tobacco smoking is another likely cause of teeth discolouration.

Bad choice of foods and drinks: Another common reason why many people complain about discoloured teeth is because they are not mindful of what they eat or drink. Generally speaking, people with strong, healthy permanent teeth can consume any food and drinks they like. But it is important to point out that not all foods and drinks are good for the teeth. If you don't want your teeth to become discoloured, you should avoid consuming foods and drinks that leave stains behind.

Old age: As you age, you should know that teeth discolouration is simply one of the numerous things that could be indicating that old age is catching up with you. It is perfectly normal for adults to experience tooth discolouration during old age.

If your teeth get discoloured, you can always have them whitened up through a teeth whitening procedure, which can be carried out at home or the dental clinic. Make sure you consult local dentists before having your teeth whitened.


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