White teeth are a growing beauty standard from the Hollywood smile of Brook Shields to the lovable Ross from Friends. However, many people struggle with yellow teeth and seek solutions to achieve a brighter smile. Before we continue to tell you about teeth and their colors, tell me about some methods you have used to whiten your teeth in the comments below.
Let’s get going, did you know that teeth have an undertone that is not white? Teeth naturally have a hue that ranges from yellow to gray and sometimes a reddish brown. This undertone is from the layer of the tooth called the dentin.
As you can see in the picture above, enamel is the outer part of the tooth that you and I can see. Underneath that is the dentin, which is responsible for tooth color, and below that is the layer of nerves and. blood vessels known as the pulp chamber.
So why are children’s teeth so white, but as you get older your teeth seem to become darker? Children have a thin layer of dentin. With little colored dentin, the enamel layer is thicker causing the teeth to look whiter. As you become an adult, the dentinal layer becomes fuller. This is why permanent/adult teeth are not as white.
But there is worse news (or is it bad at all)! As you get even older your enamel starts to thin from everyday practices. For example, brushing your teeth, eating, drinking acidic beverages, and much more. The causes the dentinal layer to show more robustly and is the reason older adults have darker teeth. This is not all bad, because it is not compromising the long-term prognosis of your teeth. You aren’t going to lose them because they are changing colors. It just shows that you are older and hopefully wiser than when you were 20.
Now let’s get to the question we all had, are whiter teeth related to healthy teeth? No, this is a common misconception. Having white teeth does not mean they are any healthier than someone with darker teeth. It is dependent on age and if the person is using bleaching products.
Should you use bleaching products? There is no research saying you should not use whitening products. The research states that if you are using bleaching products on your teeth, you need to follow the manufacturer instructions. If you are not sure what the proper protocol is, visit your local dentist to ask them for more information or fill out a consultation form with Dr. Trivedi and set up a free informatory session.
