A common myth on teeth discoloration is that it only affects those who don't take good care of their teeth. However, the reality is that poor oral hygiene is just one among many causes of teeth discoloration. Here are some of the reasons good oral hygiene may not shield you from teeth discoloration:
You Are Aging
Your teeth will inevitably darken as you age, and there are three main reasons for this. First, there is the issue of accumulation of staining agents over the years of your life. After all, even if you are the keenest eater and best oral hygienist, you will not escape these staining agents your entire life.
You Are Genetically Predisposed To Discoloration
Secondly, your less-than-stellar-white teeth color may also be due to your ancestors. This is because most teeth characteristics, including color, are inherited. Therefore, you may be genetically predisposed to slightly darker teeth than other people.
You Have Taken Discoloring Drugs
There are drugs that cause teeth discoloration; suitable examples include fluoride and tetracycline. Fluoride is often added in water to help harden teeth, especially in children, but too much of it can cause teeth discoloration; therefore, you might be dealing with teeth discoloration now because your parents were a little overzealous with the fluoride. Tetracycline is an antibiotic used to treat different infections, but it can also change the enamel and dentin.
Dental Trauma
It is also possible for dental trauma to cause teeth discoloration, but this doesn't mean you are careless with your dental or oral care. For example, if you knock your teeth, it may experience internal bleeding, and the blood clots inside the teeth may make it appear discolored.
Dental Treatment Has Affected Your Teeth
Lastly, there are dental treatments that are necessary but can discolor your teeth. One example is the use of silver amalgam for dental fillings, which may lead to discoloration because the metal stains the teeth. Root canal treatment is another dental treatment that may discolor your tooth; the discoloration appears due to bruising of the internal structures of the teeth or bleeding.
Good oral hygiene is necessary even if it doesn't prevent teeth discoloration in everybody. Therefore, you still need to brush and floss your teeth daily. Consult a cosmetic dentist for help if you have been brushing and flossing daily but your teeth are still not as white as you want them to be.