{"id":670,"date":"2024-01-18T12:05:00","date_gmt":"2024-01-18T12:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.richardfossumdds.com\/blog\/?p=670"},"modified":"2024-01-24T17:08:06","modified_gmt":"2024-01-24T17:08:06","slug":"what-the-color-of-your-teeth-says-about-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.richardfossumdds.com\/blog\/what-the-color-of-your-teeth-says-about-you\/","title":{"rendered":"Look into Your Smile: What Tooth Color Says About You"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Along with others, you likely grew up thinking good teeth are always white<\/a>. The idea is often promoted by media and pop culture. Truthfully, though, your smile\u2019s shade naturally changes with age. That means your tooth color can point to where you are in life. If you\u2019d like to learn more, here\u2019s a primer on what the color of your teeth says about you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What Does Your Tooth Color Say About You?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As it happens, there\u2019s a lot you can tell from a person\u2019s tooth color. Consider the shades listed below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Very White<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As an adult, having very white teeth means you take great care of your smile. Patients will only have a bright grin if they get whitening treatments or clean their chompers daily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, smiles are usually at their whitest when you\u2019re an infant. So-called \u201cbaby teeth\u201d are more calcified than adult ones. Plus, a baby\u2019s dentin is very light yellow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bluish Gray<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some people are born with bluish gray teeth, but this outcome is rare. A blue-gray shade usually stems from a special kind of staining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You see, antibiotics called tetracyclines can change tooth color. The result is often yellow or brown teeth, but the hue can also be blue-gray. Sadly, though, this staining can\u2019t be undone. It occurs inside the tooth, so whiteners won\u2019t work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yellow<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Since dentin darkens with age, yellow teeth can imply you\u2019re a not-so-young adult. Thin enamel allows one to see the colored layer beneath it. Plaque can also accumulate over time, leaving teeth dirty and yellow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All the same, yellow teeth typically mean that you have tooth stains. Odds are you drink plenty of coffee, tea, and red wine that discolor your smile. Without proper cleaning, these materials stain enamel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brown<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Should your teeth turn brown, it\u2019s likely because your tooth stains have worsened. The buildup of tannins, plaque, and tobacco can easily discolor enamel. When they reach a breaking point, previously yellow stains darken into a deep brown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you see brown spots on your teeth, visit your dentist at once. While they\u2019re likely just stains, they could also point to severe tooth decay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Brighten Your Smile<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Aside from a whitening procedure, there are several ways to make your grin brighter. Some of the most notable ones are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n