Beyond Color: Why White Teeth Are Not Always Better

Looking at two teeth, you see that one is sparkling white on the front surface, but it has a small cavity on the back side. The other is several shades duller than the first but otherwise strong. Which tooth would you consider to be healthier? You’ve heard the expression not to judge a book by its cover; well, you can’t always judge a tooth by its color.

Although social media and “beauty experts” would beg to differ, white teeth are not always required for your mouth to be considered healthy. The truth is that the color of the enamel doesn’t affect the tooth’s strength, health, or function and should therefore be a lower priority issue for you and your dentist compared to others.