The daily wear and tear of eating three square meals a day is the most common cause of dental staining. If you don’t brush and floss on a daily basis, you’re even more likely to experience natural discoloration. Some patients, however, do have teeth that are harder to keep white and bright. In this case, genetics might be a better factor to blame! Keep reading to learn how your family tree can affect the shade of your smile – and how your cosmetic dentist can help.
Basic Tooth Structure
To understand how genetics plays a role in the color of your teeth, you’ll need a crash-course on tooth anatomy.
Teeth are composed of several different layers, sort of like your skin. Enamel, for example, is the topmost layer. When you tap the surface of your tooth, what you’re touching is enamel. Dentin is a secondary layer that forms underneath enamel, and helps to protect your tooth’s squishy pulp and nerves.
Genetic Conditions that Affect Tooth Anatomy
Now, the quality of a tooth’s enamel and dentin is determined (at least partially) by genetics. Certain hereditary conditions can actually make these layers weaker than average, which has some interesting consequences. Here are two such conditions:
- Dentinogenesis Imperfecta. This condition impacts how your dentin is formed. Abnormalities in the thickness, shape, or texture of this layer lead to a specific discoloration that can make teeth appear blue-gray, brown, or even translucent.
- Amelogenesis Imperfecta. This condition has more to do with your enamel, and can make it excessively thin, soft, or pitted. It’s more likely to create a yellow or brown discoloration.
Part of the reason teeth are a shade of ivory is because of the thickness of the dentin and enamel layers. When one or the other is weak, it changes how light and color displays through the pours, creating a “stained” look.
How Your Cosmetic Dentist Can Help
Discoloration caused by genetic conditions like dentinogenesis imperfecta and amelogenesis imperfecta is more complex than tarnishing caused by leftover food pigments. Instead of teeth whitening, your cosmetic dentist will likely recommend dental veneers. In addition to being able to conceal discoloration beneath a perfectly pearly façade, veneers can also serve as an extra dental layer to help protect your weakened teeth!
If you just can’t seem to keep up with the tarnishing of your teeth, talk to your cosmetic dentist in Bellaire. They’ll be able to determine whether a genetic condition is to blame for your yellow smile and provide an effective solution.
About the Author
Dr. Stacy Hebert-Schoener completed her dental residency at Memorial Hermann Hospital, where she gained valuable hands-on experience caring for medically complex patients. If genetics are affecting the shade of your smile, Dr. Stacy is well-qualified to help you find a long-term solution! To contact her office and schedule a cosmetic dentistry consultation, call 713-666-1597.