Why Do Teeth Change Color?

With the appearance of the first teeth, we must begin the practice of correct oral hygiene. This habit is intended to prevent periodontal disease and any abnormal coloring in the future.

Throughout our lives, we can notice how teeth change color. However, we often overlook this fact because we think it has to do with the changes in the body during growth. However, changing the color of teeth goes far beyond that.

Appearance and characteristics of teeth

The first teeth,  called baby teeth, appear in the gums of babies at approximately five months of age. Certainly, it may take longer for some children. In total, there are twenty teeth, ten of them located at the top and the same amount at the bottom.

These twenty teeth are divided into incisors – which are the most visible teeth in the mouth –, canines and molars. Between the ages of six and seven, three or four more teeth appear.

The latter are not changed, which makes them more prone to cavities and noticeable color changes. At this age, baby teeth also fall out and permanent ones appear.

Wisdom teeth, also called judgment teeth, can appear at any time, meaning there is no specific age. Their arrival is painful as they push other existing teeth for lack of space. The worst thing is that the specialist ends up extracting them, as they are useless.

All teeth are made up of a visible part, called the crown, and an invisible part, which is the root. The latter is immersed in the part of the jaw called the alveolus.

When do teeth change color?

There are numerous causes for color changes in teeth. Among the most common and important are:

Traumas

Often  the teeth change color – mainly the upper front parts – because they are exposed to blows and falls. In general, the shades they adopt range from gray to brown or dark yellow.

Caries

When there is not proper oral hygiene or good use of the toothbrush, teeth can darken. This is because  there are calcified bacteria, called cavities, that lodge in them. One of the most dangerous consequences of its presence is tooth loss.  

food or medicine

Some foods rich in coloring – such as soda and condiments – or with a high percentage of iron, stain teeth. Traces of these substances usually remain attached to teeth for a long time, making it difficult to remove them.

Tobacco

Due to the high content of nicotine and the smoke that enters the mouth, cigarettes tend to stain teeth. Smokers do serious damage to their teeth, not only in terms of color change, but also by decreasing blood flow to the gums. As a result, they are more prone to periodontal disease.

Tips to prevent teeth from changing color

Prevention is always better than cure. So follow these simple steps to prevent your teeth from changing color:

• Use all your teeth for chewing: this is the only thing that strengthens your gums.
• Eat an apple, chewing it well, before bed: you can also eat it after brushing.
• Avoid excessive consumption of chocolates and sweets in general: they contribute to the formation of cavities and, therefore, to the change in color of the teeth.
• If you are a frequent smoker of cigarettes or tobacco, rub a fresh sage leaf or cotton wool soaked in hydrogen peroxide on your teeth.

• Hydrogen peroxide is one of the best toothpastes: sodium perborate is the same substance, but in powder form. You can use it together with toothpaste to increase its whitening effect.
• The teeth change color when the brush is not done correctly: in this sense, you should have two, as one will be used to dry the oral cavity and the other with the respective toothpaste.

Factors that can cause teeth to change color are so common that they are often ignored and we become accustomed to mistreating our teeth. It is important to maintain good oral hygiene on a daily basis, not just for aesthetic reasons, but for all the negative implications for general health that we can have if this is not done.