A combination of factors will cause your teeth to darken over the years. Some are beyond your control. Some you can prevent. No matter what has caused your teeth to lose their white brilliance, you can get it back. One of the simplest things you can do to restore the beauty and youthful look of your smile is to have your teeth whitened. Then, you need to learn to maintain the results.

Personal habits

Poor or improper dental hygiene, some foods and beverages, and tobacco use can all cause your teeth to darken.

Obviously, dirty teeth are not going to be their whitest. Good dental hygiene at home will help, but you also need regular cleanings to remove tartar. Going overboard and using harsh abrasives can damage the enamel of your teeth. They may look whiter right after you brush, but they will no longer have their natural stain-resistance and will darken more quickly.

Red wine, dark berries, coffee, tea and other staining foods and beverages cause teeth to darken with repeated use. So do smoking and chewing tobacco.

Tooth whitening can remove these stains. Of course, if you continue to do things that stain your teeth, you will need touch-ups more often to maintain the results.

Darkening as a Natural Part of Aging

The enamel of our teeth thins as we age. As this happens the yellow dentin inside of our teeth starts to show through. This is not staining, and there really is not anything you can do to prevent it from happening. It does make your teeth look dull and yellow, and it can make you look older than you really are.

You can get rid of this yellow look. Tooth whitening actually reaches the dentin and lightens it too.

Medications, Trauma, and Fillings

If your teeth are dark on the inside it will show through the enamel. Darkening inside of your tooth is called intrinsic staining. The problem often starts in childhood. Taking certain medications, such as tetracycline, while your teeth are developing can cause deep, dark staining.

Trauma to a tooth can also cause it to darken. Darkening may occur gradually and not immediately after the trauma.

Intrinsic staining is often resistant to whitening, but the techniques and products used to whiten teeth are constantly improving, and stains that did not respond years ago may be lightened now. If not, there are other solutions, such as porcelain veneers, that can cover your darkened teeth with beautiful, natural-looking results.

Metal fillings can make your teeth look dark, and they can stain your teeth. They can also cause small fractures and deterioration of your teeth. Metal fillings can be replaced with healthier, tooth-colored fillings .