What Shade are Healthy Teeth?

Upon your first encounter with people, their first noticeable feature is probably their smile, which means having sparkling white teeth to support a charming and friendly smile is a blessing. However, many of us find it hard to offer a full-fledged smile because of the awkwardness of showing stained or discolored teeth.

People are concerned about the appearance of their teeth, and mainstream media is not helping matters. They continue to paint images of perfectly white teeth and have unknowingly pushed the idea that white is the proper shade your teeth should have. For instance, teeth whiteness is currently the leading cosmetic concern for patients.

The fact is that people are unique, and their teeth are not exempted. Not only is the shape, but also the darkness, shade and enamel thickness of the teeth different in each patient. Although there is no standard guide for determining tooth color, many dentists have a shade guide to ascertain the proper whiteness of the patient’s teeth.

It is essential to take note of the reasons behind the teeth’s whiteness and the proper shades that a healthy tooth should be. This will help you make informed and correct decisions about whitening procedures.

Teeth shades

The teeth shade guide is typically divided into two—teeth shade and teeth darkness.

Teeth shade considers the primary color, tint or hue of the teeth, rather than the lightness or darkness of the teeth. Everyone’s teeth color is somewhat different, but most colors can be categorized into four major color sections. The color sections are labeled from A-D.

The four main teeth shades are:

A: reddish brown

B: reddish yellow

C: gray

D: reddish gray

All these colors are normal for healthy teeth, but if you are not satisfied, you can whiten them.

Tooth darkness is divided into four categories, but newer guides use more precise scales with different levels of darkness for each shade. The cross-reference of shade and darkness can help patients determine their specific tooth color, which can be used as a point of reference when undergoing any form of cosmetic restoration.

Causes of teeth discoloration

Discoloration can appear as brown spots, white streaks and yellow tints. Although it is possible to correct some stains through proper oral care at home, some discolorations need dental attention. Below are different types of discoloration caused by various factors.

Internal discoloration: This is discoloration occurring on the inside of the teeth. The dentin (middle layer) may turn yellowish or darker and can be caused by internal bleeding from physical injury to the tooth, exposure to a high amount of fluoride or tetracycline antibiotics during childhood and some genetic disorders.

External discoloration: This refers to blemishes on the enamel (outer layer) of the teeth. These stains can occur from drinking red wine, coffee, dark juices, excessive tobacco use, dark berries, fizzy drinks and juices with strong coloring.

How can you use this information?

There is no standard shade for healthy teeth. Regardless of what your natural shade is, you can keep your teeth healthy by maintaining adequate oral hygiene.

Call (312) 509-9492 today to reach Smiles On Michigan.

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