Have you ever noticed how white the teeth of a small child are? When teeth first erupt, they are usually very white and bright, but they do not just stay this way. In fact, teeth will begin to discolor right away after eruption, and this discoloration tends to worsen as people age. Here are some of the leading causes of tooth discoloration and ways to prevent this from occurring.

Beverages and foods

Eating the wrong foods and beverages will lead to discoloration of the teeth, especially if you consume the wrong ones daily. For example, do you drink coffee or tea each morning? If so, your teeth will likely become discolored quickly from these drinks, as they tend to stain teeth. Other beverages that stain teeth include wine and pop.

When you eat foods that are high in acids, they too can lead to staining of the teeth, but this happens for a different reason than the way beverages affect your teeth. Acidic foods lead to a loss of enamel from your teeth. When you lose enamel, it allows the inner parts of your teeth to be exposed, and these parts are yellow in color.

Habits

Your habits can also lead to discoloration of your teeth, especially habits involving tobacco products. Additionally, grinding your teeth is a habit that also discolors the teeth, as it causes a loss of enamel on teeth too.

Medicines

There may also be medications you have taken in your life that have caused your teeth to discolor. The most common one is tetracycline, but there are other types of medications too that can lead to discoloration.

Poor oral care

The final reason is a very obvious one, which is poor oral care. Not brushing your teeth properly or often enough will cause your teeth to discolor, and this happens for several reasons. One reason is due to a buildup of plaque on your teeth. Plaque is yellow or brown and is a substance that naturally forms in your mouth, but you can easily remove it by brushing your teeth regularly. Without brushing, the plaque will simply stay there and buildup and will lead to further discoloration of your teeth.

You can prevent discoloration of your teeth by eating the right foods and drinks and by caring properly for your teeth. If you would like to learn more about teeth-whitening options, you can do so by talking to your local dentist ​or by visiting a cosmetic dentist.