Is everyone's teeth white?

Having pearly white teeth is often seen as an ideal trait, but are bright white teeth really the norm? The answer is more nuanced than you might think.

Table of Contents

What Causes Teeth to be White or Yellow?

The natural color of teeth is off-white, with a yellowish tint. The enamel that covers the outer layer of teeth is naturally this color. However, there are several factors that can affect the whiteness of teeth:

Genetics – Some people naturally have yellower tooth enamel.
Age – As you get older, enamel thins and the yellowish dentin underneath shows through more.
Food and Drink – Things like coffee, tea, red wine, and blueberries can stain teeth over time.

Smoking – Nicotine and tar accumulate on teeth, turning them yellow and brown.
Medications – Some prescription drugs like tetracycline can discolor teeth.
Trauma – Injuries that damage the enamel can darken a tooth.

Fluorosis – Too much fluoride intake when teeth are developing can lead to white spots and streaks.

Proper oral hygiene and avoiding staining foods and habits can help keep teeth whiter. But some discoloration over time is normal.

How White are Most People’s Teeth?

Since perfectly white teeth are not natural for most people, what is considered average tooth shade? Here are some statistics on tooth color:

The most common natural tooth shade is between A1 and A3 on the VITA classical shade guide. This corresponds to a light cream to light yellowish tint.
Only about 10% of the population has teeth shade A1, which is the whitest shade on the guide before bleaching.
Roughly 60-70% of people have a tooth color in the A2 to A3 range, between light and medium yellow-white.

Around 15% have more yellowish teeth in the A3.5 to A4 range.
Very few people (2-3%) have teeth at the high end of the scale, A4 or darker, unless stained.

So while bright white A1 shade teeth are seen as the ideal, they are rare without bleaching. Most people fall somewhere in the light yellow-white to cream color range.

Do Other Factors Affect Tooth Color Perception?

It’s not just genetics that determine how white teeth appear. Other factors also influence how light or yellowish teeth look to others:

Lip color – Fuller, darker colored lips can make teeth seem brighter by contrast.
Skin tone – Whiter teeth tend to stand out more on warmer, darker skin tones.

Hair and eye color – Cooler hair and eye colors like blonde and blue can also accentuate the whiteness of teeth.
Age – As enamel thins with age, yellowing is more noticeable.
Smile lines – If more gum tissue shows when smiling, less tooth surface is visible.

So the same set of teeth may appear more or less white depending on other facial features and age.

Do Men or Women Have Whiter Teeth?

Some observational studies suggest women are more likely to have whiter teeth than men. However, there are no major biological differences that cause this:

Natural enamel thickness and color is the same in both genders.

Women may be more diligent about dental hygiene, avoiding stains.
Estrogen levels in women may slightly improve calcium content in teeth.
Women are more frequent consumers of professional teeth whitening treatments.

One study of over 1000 people found 65% of women had a natural tooth shade of A1 to A3, while only 48% of men fell in that lighter color range. So the evidence does suggest women on average have whiter teeth, though males can certainly still have very white teeth with proper oral care.

Does Tooth Color Differ by Ethnicity?

Natural tooth shade tends to vary somewhat between ethnic groups, on average:

European descent – Tends toward lighter end of spectrum, more A2 and A3.

East Asian – Also often lighter shades, though enamel may have a grayish tint.
South Asian – Wider range, but commonly A2 to middle A shades.
African descent – More variable, but averages A3 to A3.5 range.

Hispanic/Latin – Broad distribution, averaging A3 to A4.

Of course, there is significant variation within populations. But some ethnic groups have a higher frequency of yellower tooth shades on average.

How Does Diet Impact Tooth Color?

Diet is one of the major factors influencing tooth discoloration. Some foods and beverages lead to surface stains, while others can penetrate deeper:

Staining Foods and Drinks	Stains Surface or Internal?
Coffee, black tea, cola	Surface stains
Red wine, berry fruits, beetroot	Deeper internal stains
Curry, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar	Surface staining
Hard candies, cough drops	Surface stains

Minimizing staining foods, brushing after meals, and using whitening toothpastes can help counteract these diet-related color changes.

Does Smoking Stain Teeth?

Smoking is severely detrimental to dental and overall health. It is also one of the major causes of tooth discoloration:

Tar and nicotine in tobacco create stubborn external stains on teeth.

The hot smoke temperature also damages enamel cells.
Tooth stains worsen over time with chronic long-term smoking.
Vaping and smokeless tobacco also contribute to stains.

Smokers have a significantly higher rate of tooth yellowing and browning.

Quitting smoking and undergoing professional teeth cleaning can gradually help reduce some, but often not all, of the discoloration caused by smoking.

Does Tooth Whitening Work?

Yes, tooth whitening is an effective way to brighten tooth color by about 2-8 shades on the shade scale. Some popular whitening methods include:

Whitening toothpastes – Mild lightening from gentle abrasives and chemicals like hydrogen peroxide.
Whitening strips – Apply flexible strips coated with peroxide gel. Low concentration for gradual lightening.
Tray-based gels – Custom dental trays hold peroxide gel on teeth for a few hours at a time.

In-office power whitening – Dentist applies concentrated peroxide and uses light or laser to accelerate bleaching.

However, results vary based on original tooth color and type of discoloration. Very yellow or stained teeth are harder to whiten. Whitening also needs to be repeated periodically as teeth can regress with time.

Are Whitened Teeth Bad for Oral Health?

There are some risks and side effects to be aware of with tooth whitening:

Peroxide-based whiteners can irritate gums, lips, and cheeks.
Overuse or misuse can lead to tooth sensitivity.
Aggressive whitening can make teeth chalky and porous.

Results may not last long without occasional re-treatment.

However, when used properly under dental supervision, research shows whitening is largely safe for enamel and dentin health. But moderation is key, as excessive whitening attempts can damage teeth.

Conclusion

While bright white teeth are seen as the most attractive, the reality is that truly white A1 shade teeth are uncommon without bleaching. Most people have off-white to light yellowish tooth color ranging from A2 to middle A shades. Whitening can lighten teeth by several shades, but does require periodic re-treatment to maintain results.

Tooth color is influenced by a combination of genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors. Proper dental hygiene and avoiding smoking and heavily staining foods help maintain a lighter tooth shade. But some yellowing over time remains normal, so don’t be alarmed if your teeth aren’t beaming white – very few people have brilliant pure white teeth naturally!