I Brush Often, So Why Are My Teeth Losing Their Whiteness?

Maybe you started brushing and flossing because a parent or dentist told you to. And maybe you keep it up today purely out of habit. Most people who have good oral hygiene maintain their at-home tooth care routine for two reasons, though. 

First, they want to avoid an issue like a cavity. Secondly, they want their teeth to look great. That latter bit can make it particularly frustrating when your teeth look less white through the years, despite diligent brushing and flossing. 

The good news? As a specialist in teeth whitening, Gemini Master-Patel, DMD, and our team can help you get your pearly whites back right here at our Riverside Dental offices in Yonkers or Thornwood, New York.

We can also help you figure out what’s behind that lessened whiteness. Here are a few of the top causes.

Aging

This one is out of your hands, unfortunately. As you get older, your teeth will get yellower.

This happens because the hard outer coating on your teeth — the enamel — is white, but the dentin underneath is yellow. As you age, your enamel thins. This allows the dentin to show through, making your teeth look more yellow than white. 

Staining foods and beverages

While you can’t do anything about the steady march of time, you can control this common cause for your teeth losing their whiteness. 

What you drink matters as much as what you eat. Red wine, coffee, tea, berry juices, and cola can all stain your teeth, diminishing their whiteness. Using a straw can help keep more of the liquid off your teeth, keeping them brighter.

Sauces also matter as much as the main components of your food. To prevent teeth staining, reduce your intake of balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, and tomato sauce.

If you love anything we just listed, you can still enjoy it. Do your best to brush your teeth shortly after eating or drinking, though. 

Using tobacco products

Smoking cigarettes and cigars and using chewing tobacco all introduce tar into your mouth, which can stain your teeth brown.

Vapes can be better, but if they contain nicotine, they still pose a threat for tooth staining. 

What you can do to get your whiteness back

We listed just a few of the things that can cause your teeth to lose their whiteness. No matter the reason, though, Dr. Master-Patel and our team can help. 

For your convenience, we offer two types of tooth whitening. If you choose to get your teeth whitened in our office, we can get them up to eight shades whiter in a single visit. But if you’d prefer to whiten your teeth at home, we can set you up with a professional-grade whitening solution and specialized trays to use comfortably and safely at home.

Ultimately, here at our office, we can help you get your pearly whites back — no matter why they’re looking less bright. To get started, call our office that’s most convenient for you, or book your appointment online today.