Now that fall is approaching, I felt it appropriate to ask: should your teeth be like leaves and change colors? Teeth usually change colors when an external event has occurred, such as a fall, trauma from a blunt object, or tooth decay (a cavity). They can also change colors due to exposure from the fluids we drink, such as tea, coffee, and sodas as well as the artificial colors that are added to the foods we eat (to make them look better, certainly not for any nutritional value).
The normal, natural color of teeth can vary greatly. As you may know, teeth are made of two substances. The hard outer shell is known as enamel, and the inner portion called dentin.
The color of enamel can vary from white, to shades of yellow or even gray. Sometimes, the enamel can be stained because of the different chemicals you were exposed to in the water you drink as the teeth were being formed. The enamel can also be malformed if you had a serious illness as a child (during the tooth forming years). Furthermore, genetics can also play a roll in enamel formation and color. Smoking can also stain teeth, and in combination with staining liquids can make your teeth look really bad.
As we mature, the enamel portion of the tooth will wear and become thinner. Now, some of the inner portion (dentin) can start to show through and influence the tooth color. The dentin may actually become visible when the overlying enamel shell has partially or completely worn away. Add to that the staining power of foods and liquids that pass through our mouth, and you can understand why teeth can get stained and ugly. Call us to schedule an appointment and we can recommend options to restore the natural beauty of your teeth.
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