Why Have My Teeth Become Discolored with Age?

There are plenty of changes you probably anticipate with age. You know wrinkles will eventually come, and some joint discomfort probably isn’t too surprising. But there’s another, less discussed change that comes with getting older: discolored teeth. 

While tooth discoloration is a somewhat natural part of aging, you’re not stuck with it. At Riverside Dental, Gemini Master-Patel, DMD, and our team offer professional teeth whitening. Visit our office in Yonkers or Thornwood, New York, to restore brightness to your smile. 

Reasons your teeth get discolored with age

A few distinct factors can contribute to a less-bright smile through the years. 

Tartar buildup

You can remove plaque with your toothbrush and floss. If you don’t get to it in time, though, it can calcify into tartar. 

This hardened plaque often looks yellow or brown and can darken your smile. Your at-home oral hygiene tools aren’t enough to remove tartar, either. You need a professional cleaning to get rid of it. 

Enamel thinning

Your teeth look white because their hard exterior coating — your enamel — is white. The trouble with aging is that your enamel thins through the years. This makes the yellow layer underneath — your dentin — more visible, contributing to a less pearly smile over time. 

Staining

Beyond the natural thinning of your enamel, other things can affect the white surface of your teeth. Staining substances contribute to tooth discoloration, especially over time. Some of the worst culprits are:

• Smoking 
• Coffee
• Cola
• Red wine
• Dark-colored juice
• Balsamic vinegar
• Tomatoes
• Berries

As your enamel gets stained, it leaves you with discoloration that may get more and more noticeable through the years. 

Getting brighter teeth no matter your age

While teeth naturally become discolored with age, you don’t have to settle for a less-than-pearly smile. Dr. Master-Patel offers a couple of options to help you restore their brightness.

With in-office teeth whitening, she can take your teeth up to eight shades whiter in a single visit. If you’re looking for a high-impact way to strip stains off your teeth — and years off your appearance — this option could be right for you.

Alternatively, we also offer take-home whitening trays. We customize the trays to fit your mouth and send you home with a professional-strength whitening gel, making this treatment more impactful than the whitening kits you can buy in the store.

Once you get home, you squeeze the whitening gel into the trays and wear them for 3–4 hours a day. If you’re looking for a way to brighten your smile from the convenience of your home, this gives you an excellent option. 

Whichever teeth whitening method you choose, you can take steps to protect your results. Don’t smoke, and when you’re going to be drinking a staining substance, use a straw if possible. Also, make sure you see our team twice a year so we can remove tartar and keep your teeth looking their brightest. 

To explore your teeth whitening options, call our Riverside Dental office nearest you or book online today.