Struggling with unsightly teeth stains that won’t go away no matter how hard your brush? There are several reasons for tooth discolouration. It could be eating habits, your choices of food and drinks, medication, or neglected oral care habits. In general, teeth stains can be surface-level or occur underneath the teeth enamel. Most of the time brown or yellow teeth are due to a combination of these factors.
Regardless of the cause, there are actions you can take to restore your pearly white teeth. But before we get to the solutions, here are facts about teeth stains dentists want you to understand.
1. There Are 2 Types of Teeth Discolouration
Awareness of the type of teeth stain you have helps you determine the appropriate solutions to enhance your smile. There are 2 common ways substances can change the appearance of your teeth:
- Extrinsic – This occurs when your teeth have turned brown or black on the surface. Extrinsic stains are often caused by a buildup of pigmented residue left by certain food or drink, including coffee, tea, wine, or soda. Tobacco also causes surface stains. This tooth stain typically fades through brushing with a whitening toothpaste as well as routine teeth cleanings.
- Intrinsic – Tougher to resolve, intrinsic stains happen underneath the tooth surface. This is caused by particles that penetrate the surface of the tooth and build up inside the enamel. Too much use of fluoride can also result in an intrinsic stain. Because this particular type of discolouration is more difficult to remove than extrinsic stains, you need teeth bleaching treatment or use a chemical whitening product to restore your teeth’s white appearance.
2. Stains Stem From Your Lifestyle
You can avoid teeth stains or prevent further discolouration by addressing the following:
- Habitual drinking of coffee, tea, or red wine – These dark-coloured drinks have the substance called chromogens (coloured compounds in organic fluids). Chromogens can stain the tooth enamel.
- Repeated tobacco use – Smoking cigarettes and chewing tobacco are leading contributors to discolouration. Tobacco has tiny particles that tend to attach to the tooth enamel. Frequent use can lead to stains, which turns darker and more stubborn to remove over time.
- Poor oral hygiene – Irregular brushing, flossing, and rinsing enable stain-inducing substances to settle on teeth.
3. Some Teeth Stain Causes Are Unavoidable
There are also inevitable factors in a person’s life that put them at a high risk of teeth discolouration. These factors include:
- Aging – The core tissue of our teeth called dentin turns yellow as we age. On top of that, our tooth enamel also wears thinner over time, exposing our dentin (a case of intrinsic staining). This, combined with extrinsic staining fueled by lifestyle habits, explains why elderly individuals (aged 60 and older) have more discoloured teeth than the younger ones.
- Genetics – Tooth shades vary from one individual to the next. Some have a darker set of teeth than others. This factor is influenced by genetic makeup that dictates enamel strength, hereditary conditions, the wear and tear conditions the teeth are exposed to, and how the enamel responds to acids and food pigments. A person’s bone and tooth development is also another factor.
4. Some Illness and Medications Can Cause Teeth Discolouration
- Disease or trauma – Some illness, disease, and trauma have an impact on the development of teeth enamel in children aged 8 and younger which puts them at risk of discolouration. In adults, trauma to the teeth can promote staining.
- Medical treatments – In some cases, treatments and medications can lead others to develop teeth stains. Common stain-causing medications are blood pressure medicines, antihistamines, and antipsychotic medicines. Treatments like chemotherapy and radiation also stain the teeth.
5. Tartar and Tooth Decay Are Also Known Culprits
The combination of oral bacteria, saliva, and food particles result in the formation of plaque. Without proper oral care, this clear and sticky film sticks on the surface of the tooth and hardens into tartar (also called calculus). Tartar can’t be removed by simple brushing. You need to visit your dentist to get rid of it and prevent it from damaging your tooth.
Other causes of tartar buildup are:
- Smoking
- Medicines that dry the mouth
- Hormonal changes
- Diabetes
- Menopause
Plaque and tartar feed on the sugars that enter your mouth. As they consume these sugars, they produce acids that weaken the structure of the enamel. The acids they form can cling to the teeth for extended periods. So to keep them from destroying your enamel, it’s necessary that you stick to proper oral care habits like brushing, flossing, and rinsing.
Otherwise, the acids break down the enamel and reveal the yellow layers of the tooth. When this happens, the tooth changes from white to yellowish-brown. Once the decay has advanced, the acids can create a dark-coloured hole through the tooth. Small cracks and openings in the teeth can also invite bacterial growth which worsens the decay.
Decay can even form on crowns and along the edges of dental fillings once bacteria have penetrated teeth cavities. This can cause moderate to severe pain and discomfort. Over time, decay exposes the nerve of your tooth. Because of this, you develop tooth sensitivity that acts up when you consume hot or cold foods and drinks.
What Are the Treatments for Teeth Stains?
Before exploring possible treatments, the first step you should take is to identify the exact type of stain you’re dealing with and the cause behind it. Some home fixes can address extrinsic stains attributed to foods, drinks, and lifestyle habits:
- Brush your teeth using a mixed solution of water and baking soda.
- Dilute hydrogen peroxide with water and rinse your mouth with it every day. Afterwards, rinse thoroughly with water.
- Brush using a whitening toothpaste that contains sodium hypochlorite, or use mouthwashes and rinses that have hydrogen peroxide.
For intrinsic stains or discolouration caused by tartar or tooth decay, visit your dentist for a more advanced solution. Your dentist or dental hygienist will scrape or blast the tartar and plaque to remove them from your teeth.
Depending on the degree of stain, your dental team may also recommend further procedures (e.g. applying topical fluoride, bleaching, and teeth polishing) to whiten your teeth and keep further decay at bay. For tougher brown or yellow stains, your dentist may also use cosmetic accessories like crowns, veneers, or fillings to conceal the discoloured teeth.
Stubborn teeth stains require the tools and expertise of a reliable dental practice. This is where Guelph dentist like Dr. Urszula Barrios can help. We provide a Lifetime Teeth Whitening Program to our new and loyal patients so they can maintain a healthy and beautiful smile for life. Request an appointment by calling (519) 767 6453.