Do you remember your teeth looking whiter a few years ago? It's not your imagination. This happens to a lot of people. If you're wondering why this happens and what you can do to change it, then read on to discover the answer.

Stains Are Not the Problem

Taking care to avoid things like tea and coffee can help you to avoid tooth staining in your life, but the cause for your discoloration is completely different than what you've been eating and drinking. For the same reason, tooth whitening at home is often not effective for age-related discoloration, as most at-home whitening kits lift and remove stains. But if you don't have any stains, they won't be of much help. 

Enamel Thins Over Time

Do you know about tooth enamel? It's the hard exterior shell on the outside of your tooth. This shell protects the inside of the tooth from dangers, and it's also what gives your teeth that white shiny appearance. As people get older, dental enamel tends to thin out. This is usually due to everyday wear and tear on the teeth. Acidic beverages, hard brushing, and bacteria can all be responsible for gradually wearing down tooth enamel. When your tooth enamel is worn down, it becomes a bit sheer, allowing the surfaces under the enamel to be visible to the eye. This is where your discoloration is coming from. The pulp and dentin of the tooth are usually brown or yellow, which can result in an unpleasant appearance.

What to Do

There are a few things you can do in this situation. The first is to be as gentle as you can with your teeth so that you don't thin out the enamel further. Secondly, consider visiting a dentist to talk about remineralization. This process helps to strengthen the enamel and can make it less translucent in the process. Alternatively, your dentist may be able to use crowns or veneers to give you the appearance you're looking for. These will not only make your teeth look white and perfect but will also provide a layer of protection over your teeth to protect the enamel from being damaged further. This is usually a good choice for people who have very thin enamel on their teeth.

Teeth tend to become darker as you age just because the enamel thins out with time and use. If you're unhappy with the way that your smile looks, talk to a dentist to find out if it's putting your teeth in danger and if crowns or veneers would be helpful in protecting your teeth.