Where Are People Most Likely to Have Discolored Teeth?

America is relentless in its pursuit of perfect, pearly-white teeth. According to OnHealth, Americans spend around $2 billion annually on teeth whitening products. However, as much as white teeth are cherished in America, so are stain-causing substances such as coffee, tea, tobacco, and wine. These all contribute to teeth discoloration. Where in the United States are people most likely to have discolored teeth due to these fun but stain-causing vices? The team at Imagix Dental created a comprehensive index tallying up these factors to pinpoint where discoloration runs rampant:

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New Hampshire takes the golden (or yellow?) crown for scoring highest on the teeth discoloration index. I just love indexes like this – combining different sets of data creates a more fascinating, multi-faceted perspective on a topic. The color palette is perfect, although mildly unpleasant due to the implications of it. Las Vegas ranks #1 for cities where people are most likely to have discolored teeth. Good thing there are so many bright, dazzling lights to make up for it!

What causes teeth discoloration? According to Cleveland Clinic, tooth discoloration is caused by factors such a dark-colored foods and beverages (coffee, tea, berries, red wine, soy sauce, etc.), smoking or other tobacco use, poor oral hygiene, excessive fluoride, genetics, dental trauma, aging, dental treatments, certain diseases such as liver disease or eating disorders, certain medications such as antihistamines and high blood pressure drugs, and cancer treatments. While not all factors that contribute to teeth discoloration are within your control, there are steps you can take to minimize it. Check out Prevention’s guide to 11 ways to prevent and reduce teeth stains.