There's nothing worse than smiling for a family photo, feeling good about yourself, and then looking at the photo a week later and noticing discoloration on your teeth. Maybe you secretly vow to never smile for a photo again.

From friendly outings to business meetings, it's all you think about. Well we're here to bring that smile back with some great news—there are ways to fix your teeth discoloration!

What Does Teeth Discoloration Look Like?

First things first—what if what you're thinking is discoloration is actually something completely different?

Teeth discoloration can manifest itself in a few different ways. It's not necessarily always as obvious as a completely yellow or brown tooth; it can also be more subtle, like splotchy yellow or gray patches on your teeth.

If you have what appears to be black spots and grooves, that's a sign of dental decay or damage rather than discoloration, and you should consult with your dentist immediately.

What Causes Teeth Discoloration?

While discoloration can occur as you age, it’s crucial to understand the root cause of your condition to effectively take care of it. Often, lifestyle choices and habits can dramatically accelerate discoloration. The following factors can cause it over time:

• Poor oral hygiene

• Smoking

• Drinking coffee or tea

• Consuming dark-colored food and drinks

• Certain medications
  

In some cases, disease or trauma can also cause discoloration. If you find your lifestyle choices line up with these examples, it's time to take action! Don’t worry—combating discoloration is possible, and we’re here to help!

How To Fix That Radiant Smile

Here's the good news—it's possible to reverse teeth discoloration. Like your dentist will tell you, oral hygiene is the number one way to keep discoloration from becoming a significant problem.

As a necessary broken record, it's important you remember to brush and floss your teeth twice daily, especially after eating or drinking anything that has a dark hue, like coffee or red wine. If you've already started seeing signs of discoloration, it's not too late!

There are a few methods to help reverse the discoloration:

• Stop any bad habits that worsen discoloration

• Use whitening toothpaste

• Bleach with hydrogen peroxide

• Invest in professional whitening treatments

Keep in mind that if you opt for something like professional whitening, you may need to repeat the process every few years. And if you're still unsure if discoloration is what you're experiencing, it never hurts to consult with your dentist to make sure you're doing what's right for your teeth.

Ultimately, discoloration isn't the end of the world—if it's caught and addressed early enough, there are ways to prevent and reverse it.

Get Your Radiant Smile Back with North Pole Dental

That smile of yours is important—it reflects your personality and adds life to those precious photos. At North Pole Dental, we understand how disheartening it can be dealing with teeth discoloration. We provide our patients with the professional dental care and solutions they need to get their radiant smile back.

Schedule an appointment today and make dental hygiene a priority in your life. We're here to help you have the best smile possible!