Why We All Want Whiter Teeth

So what is the reason behind so many people wanting whiter, healthier-looking smiles?  What do whiter teeth and a whiter smile do for people?

Many people have greater confidence when they have a whiter smile.  A great smile can be a real confidence booster and many people are self-conscious about how clean their teeth appear to others.  Most pile smile all the time and we just unconsciously feel that a whiter smile is better.

This confidence and other people’s impressions are linked to hygiene.  While whiter teeth don’t necessarily mean better hygiene, we subconsciously equate it with that, so people with whiter teeth are generally seen as “cleaner.”  Even people who brush regularly and are otherwise well groomed can feel less clean because their smile isn’t as white as they’d like.

Surveys have also shown that whiter teeth are tied with the impression of age.  The same person, one with stained teeth and the other with a whiter smile, will be judged at different ages by observers with the whiter teeth winning out as a younger impression.

This impression ties in with sexual attraction as well.  The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry did a study that showed that 85% of adults said an unattractive smile makes the opposite sex less appealing.  It’s likely that this ties in with the confidence and cleanliness issues above.  Whiter teeth do make for better lovers, apparently–at least through the impressions people gave.

Most teeth whitening methods are considered safe if they’ve been approved by the American Dental Association.  While there are a lot to choose from, that’s because a whiter smile can mean a happier, more confident you.

The Reason Your Teeth Get Discolored

There are a lot of reasons for your teeth to get stained or discolored.  Tooth staining happens from a lot of the things we do in our lives and tooth discoloration can come from some of the most unlikely-seeming sources too.

Foods that we eat can stain our teeth, especially those with heavy color pigments in them like soy sauce, some vinegars, most berries, and more.  Citrus and acidic foods can loosen the “caps” that cover the pores in the teeth, causing them to more easily take stains.

Things we drink, like coffee and tea, can also be the reason behind teeth discoloration.  Red wine, some soft drinks, juices from dark fruits, and more are all culprits here.

In fact, a good rule of thumb on tooth staining is that if whatever you’re eating or drinking will make you flinch when it’s rubbed or poured on a white t-shirt, it probably causes tooth discoloration too.

Other habits we put in our mouths like smoking, chewing tobacco, and even chewing gum can cause teeth discoloration.  With tobacco, the more you use it, the deeper the stain until it eventually becomes permanent.

Regular dental hygiene like brushing and flossing is important to keeping tooth staining at a minimum, of course, but over doing it can be just as bad.  Over brushing is often one of the most common reasons that many people have teeth discoloration.  The brushing itself doesn’t cause staining, but it weakens the enamel, allowing stains to more easily set in.

Other factors in tooth staining problems can be medications, diseases that cause minerals to leach out of the body or not be absorbed nutritionally, and radiation (X-rays and chemo therapy) are all things that can cause tooth discoloration in patients.

Finally, genetics plays a role too.  Some people are just born with naturally white teeth, just as others are born with straight or crooked ones and still others are born with an apparent inability to get cavities.

All in all, though, most teeth discoloration and staining can be prevented if you know what causes it.