Why Have My Teeth Become Discolored With Age?

As a kid, you brushed your teeth because your parents told you to and you didn’t want a cavity. As an adult, you pick up the brush out of concern for your oral health, but also because you want to keep your teeth white. But they’re not anymore. Why?

Nothing’s more frustrating than giving something your all and still not having it come out right. That’s how you feel every time you flash a smile to the mirror or check out a recent photo. Those teeth you’ve tried to keep white and bright look dingy, dull, and discolored.

Even though you use whitening toothpaste and occasionally try an over-the-counter whitening treatment, your smile looks browner rather than whiter.

At Sabrina E. Mickel DDS & Associates our experienced and caring dentist, Sabrina E. Mickel, DDS, wants your teeth to be healthy and white. That’s why he offers a number of solutions for dull and dingy teeth at our office in Beachwood, Ohio.

Why do your teeth become discolored with age? He shares the answer and our best solutions for whiter teeth.

Your teeth aren’t white because the enamel is thinner

While, overall, your body may be thicker than it was in high school or college, one of the exceptions is the enamel on your teeth. Enamel is a hard, protective substance that prevents bacteria from infiltrating your teeth to cause cavities and decay.

As you age, the tissues in your body start to thin out and wear away. You may have noticed changes in your skin, such as drier, looser skin that’s more prone to wrinkles.

The enamel on your teeth also breaks down, partly due to the aging process. In addition, continual exposure to acids and sugars from the foods you eat gradually wear away at that protective coating. Even overly vigorous brushing may contribute.

The end result is that the thick, white enamel on your teeth is now significantly thinner and more translucent. That means that the true color of your inner tooth — the dentin — is now visible. No amount of teeth whitening pastes or creams can bleach away that inner discoloration.

Your teeth are yellowed because stains have accumulated

If you habitually drink coffee, tea, wine, or cola, those drinks have left their marks on your teeth. Even if you rinse after you drink dark beverages or eat intensely colored foods, such as blueberries or blackberries, you can’t completely remove the stains.

The coloring gets embedded in your enamel, just as dyes infiltrate clothing fibers. Over-the-counter whiteners may be able to lift a few shades of stain away from your teeth, but the stains will come back again unless you change your eating and drinking habits.

Professional whitening for brighter enamel

A professional whitening session may whiten your teeth by eight shades during an hour-long, in-office treatment. The gel used in the whitening treatment works by breaking down enamel stains at the molecular level.

You also have the option of take-home kits that you can use for touch-ups between professional whitening visits.

Veneers transform your teeth

If your teeth are severely stained, are damaged in other ways, or are aesthetically displeasing to you, you may consider veneers. Veneers are thin porcelain shells that we adhere to your teeth after sanding down some of the enamel.

Veneers can completely transform your smile. Not only do they give you permanently white, bright teeth, they also mask cracks, chips, and gaps. You can even create longer teeth or a more even row of teeth. Veneers resist stains, so you never have to whiten them.

Don’t accept dingy teeth as part of your natural aging process. Brighten your smile today by calling us for professional teeth whitening or veneers at 216-510-9974. You can also book your appointment with our online form.