Teeth no longer white? It may be your habits or just age

Professional cleaning can help lighten your teeth, but it should not be done too often or it will cause dental damage. — dpa

Like it or not, it’s normal for teeth to change colour and become less white over time.

The change is due to the enamel, which contains a lot of water and minerals.

Those materials make the tooth permeable to all substances that can cause the tooth to discolour, says Dr Christoph Benz, a professor of dentistry based in Germany.

Red wine, coffee, tea and smoking are all common causes, but some diseases and medicines can also discolour our teeth.

The colour of our teeth also changes as we age.

Under the enamel of our teeth lies the dentin, which tends to be yellowish or grey for some people, meaning their natural tooth colour is genetically determined and cannot be changed.

If you are unable to do without your coffee, red wine or other staining stimulants, then the best advice is to brush your teeth regularly, meaning two to three times a day to remove the plaque, says dental hygiene expert Dirk Kropp.

“It may sound pretty basic, but it actually already helps a lot.”

Alongside regular care, have your teeth cleaned regularly by a professional, as that will help to lighten your teeth.

But don’t overdo it, says Prof Benz, warning that it can be harmful to your teeth.

“I wouldn’t recommend you brushing your teeth right after every glass of wine either,” he said. – dpa