Causes Of Dental Discoloration In Old Age, And Bleaching Candidacy

3 December 2019
 Categories: Dentist, Blog


Discolored teeth are unappealing irrespective of age. Unfortunately, teeth discoloration tends to creep up on people as they age. Below is an overview of teeth discoloration causes in old age, and whether you may be a candidate for bleaching.

Causes of Old Age Discoloration

Most of the things that can cause dental discoloration in other age groups can also cause the same problem in old age.  However, the following are some of the top causes of dental discoloration in old age.

Aging

Teeth have the characteristic white color because the enamel, which is the outermost teeth layer, prevents the darker materials from showing through.  As you age, your teeth enamel wears and becomes thinner and thinner. The thin enamel then allows the inner and darker parts of the teeth to show through and discolor your teeth.

Medication

Numerous ailments show up in old age. Some of them may require chronic medication, and some of the drugs may discolor the teeth after prolonged usage.

Lifetime of Habits

Some habits may not discolor the teeth immediately, but they do so after years of practicing the same habits. Drinking tea, eating berries, and smoking are examples of such habits. Poor oral hygiene can also discolor the teeth. If you keep up such habits regularly, then they might catch up with you and discolor your teeth after years.

Candidacy for Bleaching

You can bleach your teeth at any age. That is, age is not a factor in teeth whitening. Here are some of the factors that determine your chances of success if you bleach your teeth.

Good Oral Health

You need to have healthy teeth or a healthy mouth in general. You won't be able to bleach your teeth if you have cracked teeth, worn teeth, or gum disease. Bleaching teeth in such conditions can be terribly painful so you need to take care of the ailments first.

No Bleach Allergy 

Peroxide is the main bleaching chemical in teeth whitening products. A few people are allergic to peroxide. You will not be able to bleach you are one of them because allergic reactions can be extremely painful and even life-threatening.

No Dental Restorations

Lastly, you are also a good candidate for teeth bleaching if you don't have dental restorations in your mouth. This is because the whitening treatment only works on your natural teeth; it won't work on the artificial materials in your mouth. Thus, you may end up with uneven color on your teeth if you have dental restorations and you bleach your teeth.

To learn more about bleaching and other cosmetic dentistry procedures, contact a clinic like Dansville Family Dental Care.


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