Why Your Teeth Lose Their Whiteness as You Age

If your teeth don’t seem as white as they once did, you’re not imagining it. Numerous factors affect the color of your teeth, including the passage of time. And while tooth discoloration isn’t a medical concern, it can make you feel less confident about your appearance.

If you long for the bright smile you once enjoyed, teeth whitening treatment can help you get there. Our experienced team of dentists at Swinney Dental in Tyler, Texas, offers several quality options, both in our office and at home.

Take a few moments to learn why your teeth lose their whiteness with age and treatments that brighten them.

How age affects the whiteness of your teeth

With increasing age, the outer layer of your teeth (enamel) gradually wears away, exposing the dentin beneath. And because the dentin has a yellow hue, your teeth may appear more yellow than white.

Other factors that may contribute to discolored teeth include:

• Certain medications
• Consuming large amounts of colored drinks, such as red wine or coffee
• Environmental factors, like excessive fluoride in your water
• Family history of discolored teeth
• Poor dental hygiene, such as infrequent toothbrushing
• Smoking or chewing tobacco
• Trauma from a sports injury

When you have multiple risk factors, your chances of discoloration are especially high. If you take antihistamines and drink coffee for many years, for example, you may be more prone to yellowed or grayish teeth from middle age on.

What to do about age-related tooth discoloration 

At Swinney Dental, we offer several teeth whitening treatments to help you regain a brighter smile, including:

• Philips Zoom whitening, performed in our office 
• Professional-grade at-home whitening kits, with custom-molded whitening trays
• GLO® at-home whitening system, which includes a warming electronic mouthpiece 

If you’d like dramatic results quickly, Zoom whitening may be your best bet. This system can whiten your teeth up to 8 shades in one hour. If you have sensitive teeth or don’t tolerate other bleaching options well, the GLO system is the best choice. 

If you have stains on your front-facing teeth, you could also consider veneers. These thin shells of porcelain or a composite are bonded to the front of your teeth during a painless procedure. They look incredibly natural and cover minor imperfections, like chips and cracks.

To learn more about tooth discoloration or receive the teeth whitening treatment you desire, call our dental team at Swinney Dental. You can also schedule an appointment using the convenient online booking feature on our website.