How White Should Your Teeth Actually Be? Experts Say Natural Variation is Key

In an era saturated with digitally enhanced images and the constant pursuit of aesthetic perfection, the question of how white our teeth should naturally be has become increasingly complex. Experts from the Australian Dental Association and the University of Queensland's School of Dentistry emphasize that the quest for an unnaturally white smile is often misguided, as natural variations in tooth color are significant and diverse.

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There is no definitive measure of how white our teeth should be.

Monica Farrelly, an oral health promoter with the Australian Dental Association, clarifies that there is "no definitive measure" for ideal tooth whiteness. Dentists utilize shade guides with around 16 "normal shades" of white, acknowledging that, much like hair and eye color, tooth color varies naturally from person to person. The perception of what constitutes a "natural smile" is further complicated by widespread practices like home whitening treatments, cosmetic dental work such as crowns and veneers, and the pervasive use of digital photo editing, all of which can alter the appearance of teeth.

Laurence Walsh, an emeritus professor at the University of Queensland's School of Dentistry, explains the biological reasons behind tooth color changes over a lifetime. Baby teeth appear exceptionally white due to their unique mineral structure. However, adult teeth, erupting from around age six, possess a richer, more yellowish and reddish hue. This internal color becomes more pronounced with age as microscopic tubules within the tooth fill with minerals, altering how light interacts with the tooth structure. By one's 50s, 60s, and 70s, teeth typically exhibit a fundamentally yellow appearance, a normal age-related change that can be accelerated by factors like teeth grinding or trauma.

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So just like our hair, eye colour, skin colour, there's natural variance in terms of how white people's teeth are.

External factors also play a significant role in tooth discoloration. Professor Walsh and Dr. Farrelly note that foods and drinks with strong pigments, such as coffee, tea, red wine, and certain foods, along with habits like smoking, can stain the outer surface of teeth. "Anything that can stain a white shirt can stain a tooth," Dr. Farrelly advises, highlighting the common culprits that contribute to surface discoloration.

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I think it's important to recognise that people do whitening at home and at dental practices. They might also have crowns or veneers... And a lot of people digitally enhance their photos nowadays as well, so it's not actually our real tooth colour.

Ultimately, the experts stress that while white teeth are often considered aesthetically desirable, they are not the sole or even primary indicator of oral health. The emphasis should be on maintaining good oral hygiene and understanding that variations in tooth color, including natural yellowness and age-related changes, are normal and healthy. The pervasive influence of social media and cosmetic procedures often creates unrealistic expectations, leading individuals to question the natural appearance of their own smiles.

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Then adult teeth begin to erupt from about the age of six onwards and those teeth have a colour which is richer in yellow and red.