Enamel is on the surface of every tooth and it has a natural hue of white. However, the underlying
Bad oral hygiene, tobacco products, certain medications, certain foods and beverages, and the aging process can all cause discoloration or yellowing of teeth. If the yellow color is coming from plaque or tartar buildup, then it goes without saying that your teeth are not in great condition.
A good rule of thumb when determining how white your teeth should be is to look at the whites of your eyes. Whether whitening at home or undergoing treatment by a professional dentist, you should be aiming for a shade of white similar to that of your eyes.
The average shade for a tooth is A3, this is considered a normal colour and around 70% of the population have natural teeth which are within this range. A B1 shade is considerably lighter than A3 and is generally considered the lightest naturally occurring shade.
Your teeth should be a similar shade of white to the whites of your eyes. If your teeth are close in colour then you probably don't want to make them any whiter, as it could start to look artificial. On the other hand, if you find that your teeth are significantly darker, whitening may be a good choice for you.
Healthy teeth are naturally an off-white or slightly yellow hue, so don't be alarmed if they're not blindingly white. But if you would like to achieve a brighter smile, always contact your dentist for treatment – it's the safest option for your grin!
To start with, the idea that teeth in their own right are perfectly white is a myth. Even if teeth were to never come in contact with a discoloring agent, they still would appear slightly off-white in their natural state. The visible portion of teeth is comprised of dentin and enamel.
A1 vs B1 Tooth Color
Logically, one might think that A1 is the whitest tooth shade because A is the first letter in the alphabet. However, the B1 tooth shade is actually the lightest, followed by A1. This is by virtue of its coloring (reddish yellow) as opposed to the coloring of A teeth (reddish brown).
Using a four-shade guide, most people have teeth that are A3 in color, meaning that they are somewhat reddish brown. This is considered the average, natural tooth shade.
Make your teeth look whiter – Darker shades like royal/navy blue, purple, and even black can make the color of your teeth appear whiter. Even so, be aware that colors like dark green and brown can look like food. What about white braces – Although this may be a color you were thinking of, you may want to stray away.
Yellow Teeth
This is the most common color of teeth. A light-yellow color indicates a strong healthy smile. The natural color of your dentin, the layer of tiny tubules that lies beneath your enamel and connects to the dental nerve in each tooth, is yellow.
#3 Brushing Isn't Designed to Whiten Teeth
As recommended by your dentist, brushing twice a day is vital because it prevents cavities and tooth decay. Brushing alone will not whiten your teeth, though, and even whitening toothpaste only has a minimal effect on your teeth.
Can my teeth become white again after turning yellow? Yes, there are a number of ways that you can help whiten teeth again after they have yellowed, from changing toothpaste and mouthwash to dental hygiene appointments.
Symptoms of tooth decay
tooth sensitivity – you may feel tenderness or pain when eating or drinking something hot, cold or sweet. grey, brown or black spots appearing on your teeth. bad breath. an unpleasant taste in your mouth.
Tooth decay symptoms often begin with a white spot, usually near the gum line. Left untreated, this can become a hole or cavity. If the cavity is not treated, the decay can get deeper into the tooth and cause a toothache or an abscess. In the later stages of decay, the tooth looks yellow-brown or black.
When the enamel is eroded so badly, in its thinnest form your inner layer can be seen, dentin. Dentin has a natural yellow color. So, if your enamel is transparent enough to show your dentin, your teeth look yellow even if you brush them every day.
Going from a B2 to A1 is 6 shades lighter on the color spectrum/shade guide.
Reader's Digest quoted Adriana Manso, a clinical professor in UBC's faculty of dentistry, for an article about how whitening agents weaken teeth. He said “bleaching products contain hydrogen peroxide that diffuses through the enamel.
While a yellow hue near the gum line can be an early sign of tooth decay, gum disease, and other dental problems—it is usually an indication of dental plaque or tartar. Dental plaque develops due to bacteria in the mouth combined with food byproducts and proteins.
Among the three shades that are part of the palette of the whitest tooth shades, the B1 tooth shade and A1 tooth shade are considered the two whitest shades. However, neither of those two shades are “too white” because they are considered natural white shades.
BL tooth shades measure teeth whiteness with bleaching. Ivoclar developed the system, and BL shades are whiter than the brightest shade of natural teeth. The shades are BL1, BL2, BL3, and BL4. BL1 is the most brilliant shade, and BL4 is slighter whiter than the whitest natural tooth shade.
A2 - Light Ivory
This light ivory shade is the sort of shade you'd see on a happy, healthy, natural smile that hasn't undergone any cosmetic whitening, but that - honestly - doesn't need to. Perfect for: Anyone looking for clean, healthy and totally natural smile.
You may not be a candidate for teeth whitening. If you are allergic to peroxide, you will not be able to have your teeth whitened, since peroxide is the active ingredient in whitening systems. If you have a lot of fillings, dental bonding or crowns, you may not be a candidate for dental whitening.
Your Teeth Aren't Clean
You may not see it, but your teeth may have a dirty biofilm or layer of plaque buildup that is preventing the whitening agents from targeting your tooth stains. Consider teeth whitening after your next routine dental cleaning.
Your Teeth Aren't Clean
If your teeth have plaque buildup, this can avert the bleaching agent from reaching the target tinges. Prior to considering any teeth whitening treatment, it is a good idea to plan an appointment for a dental cleaning.