Tooth Whitening - Why Do Teeth get Dark

Tooth whitening seems to be all the rage these days, there is just so much focus on the appearance of our smiles.  The reason is simple, people associate good oral health with white teeth. 

Of course, some discoloration is to be expected as you get older.  However, that doesn’t mean that you have to live with it.

So why do we need tooth whiteners and why do teeth get dark in the first place?

There are many reasons why teeth darken over time, and just as many myths.  Age, genes, and what we consume orally are the main causes of darkened smiles.  Cigarette smoking, coffee, cola drinks, and especially tea are the main culprits that cause tooth whitening to be so popular.

Ways to fight the natural and self inflicted darkening process starts with good oral hygiene.   That means good old fashioned brushing and flossing.  Brushing and flossing at least twice a day will decrease your risk of serious dental and oral diseases (like gum disease), fight bad breath, and reduce the darkening of your teeth. 

Next you need a good tooth whitening product.  Notice that I said a good tooth whitening product.  The truth is that there are many tooth whitening product available to the average consumer.  Some are exceptionally expensive while others are quite modest.

The truly expensive procedures include zoom teeth whitening and laser teeth whitening, with whitening tooth paste bringing up the rear at a very modest price range.

Whereas teeth whitening toothpaste is not a bad idea, studies indicate that most (if not all) do not readily contribute to the shade of your smile.  The one product that may help is the one that you need to stay away from, and that is the abrasive cleaners.  Abrasive cleaners may indeed whiten your teeth, but at what cost.  Prolonged use will cause the enamel to wear off of your teeth opening up the possibility of advanced tooth decay.  Then the only way to fix your smile may be dentures!

One of the best systems that we have found out there both on and off the “web” is the professional full strength teeth whitening kit that comes with custom lab created trays to perfectly fit your smile sold by purewhitesmiles.com.

For more information about teeth whitening products check our section on teeth whitening products for more information.