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Why are teeth white? |
Outside the Body
Have you ever been asked to “show those pearly whites” when you’re smiling for the camera? There’s nothing like the flash of white you see when somebody smiles at you! But what makes your teeth white? It turns out both the inside and the outside of your teeth play a part!
The outer layer of your tooth is called the enamel, and believe it or not, it’s made of the hardest tissue in your body! Though some say enamel is white, it can be shades of white, yellow and gray. If enamel is the shell that covers your tooth, the dentin is what’s inside. Dentin is often darker and more yellow than enamel.
Enamel is translucent, which means light can pass through it, so depending on how translucent and how thick your enamel is, what’s underneath can really matter when it comes to the color of your teeth!
The thicker and brighter the enamel, the whiter the teeth! And if that enamel gets thinner or is very translucent, the brightness of the underlying dentin can affect the whiteness of the teeth!
Flossing and gently brushing your teeth can help keep them healthy and bright!
