Whitening: What Influences the Colour of Teeth?

As a culture, people in the United States are obsessed with finding the next best product that will dramatically whiten their teeth to give them the beautiful smile they crave. While there are many teeth whitening products on the market that claim to whiten teeth, there are also many factors that contribute to tooth discoloration. Before you can choose a whitening product, it's important to understand the possible reasons behind your tooth discoloration and preventative measures you can take to eliminate stains altogether. Knowing what has caused the stains will allow you to find a product that will be effective.

While some people's teeth are naturally lighter or darker than another's there are certain agents that promote teeth stains. For example, people who regularly drink tea, coffee, red wine, cola and other dark beverages are more susceptible to teeth staining than others who abstain from these products. Additionally, cigarette smoke has a terrible effect on tooth enamel and contributes greatly to discoloration. Certain medications can also cause teeth discoloration, as well. If you are concerned about whitening your teeth, there are a number of at home kits you can buy that will alter your smile to a beautiful pearly white.

Before you can decide on a product, it's important to speak with your dentist about the possible cause behind your tooth discoloration. Knowing what's causing your teeth to be less white than you'd like is the first step in deciding on a course of treatment to obtain the bright, beautiful smile you want.

Teeth Whitening Articles