Can You Prevent Tooth Discoloration?

Nothing enhances your appearance like a confident smile. If you’re concerned about discolored teeth, there are steps you can take to preserve their color. That said, not all tooth discoloration is inevitable. 

Thankfully, you don’t have to go to extremes to prevent staining. Relatively simple efforts can be paired with teeth whitening treatments, as needed, to help ensure a smile you feel great about.

Our experienced team of dentists at Swinney Dental in Tyler, Texas, offers in-office and professional-grade at-home teeth whitening options to suit your needs. Read on to learn more about tooth discoloration, including steps for prevention and ways we can help.

Causes of discolored teeth

Tooth discoloration typically happens over time and for a combination of reasons. These factors may include:

• Aging, due to enamel wearing thin 
• Chewing or smoking tobacco
• Consuming certain foods, such as berries, cherries, and tomato sauce
• Consuming certain beverages, such as red wine, coffee, colas, and tea
• Environmental factors, such as drinking high-fluoride water
• Family history of discolored teeth
• Poor oral hygiene habits, such as improper brushing or skipping dental cleanings
• Taking medications, such as various antibiotics and antihistamines 
• Trauma to your teeth

The severity of your discoloration depends on how many factors impact you and to what degree. If you drink coffee occasionally, for example, you’re less likely to have staining that can come from drinking several cups of coffee each day. And if greying or yellowish teeth run in your family, discoloring lifestyle factors may intensify those hues.

Preventing tooth discoloration

While you can’t prevent all tooth discoloration, such as changes brought on by aging, you can take steps to minimize it. If you enjoy foods and drinks that fuel tooth stains, you can stick to smaller amounts or make sure you brush your teeth well shortly afterward. 

Additional steps you can take to limit tooth discoloration include quitting tobacco use and scheduling routine dental cleanings. Depending on the state of your teeth and oral health, we may recommend 1-3 cleanings per year.

Reversing tooth discoloration

If you’re bothered by discolored teeth, consider professional teeth whitening. At Swinney Dental, we offer in-office and at-home whitening options to meet your needs and preferences. 

Our in-office treatment utilizes the Philips Zoom whitening system, which can brighten your teeth up to 8 shades lighter within an hour. For more gradual results and less tooth sensitivity, you may prefer a professional-grade, at-home kit. We offer GLO® at-home whitening kits that come with a whitening agent and an electronic mouthpiece to heat the whitening gel for superior results. 

To learn more about teeth whitening or get the care you need, call our dental team at Swinney Dental or schedule an appointment using the convenient online booking feature.