What Causes Tooth Discoloration?

Tooth stains and discoloration embarrass a lot of people who are anxious to give their teeth a cleaner, whiter look. It’s important to note that stains and color changes are often just the natural result of aging. Thankfully, most people can achieve a greatly improved look through a variety of options.

Why do our teeth stain?

A number of elements in everyday life can stain teeth:

· Food and drink -- Tea, coffee, colas, wine and some fruits and vegetables (potatoes and apples)

· Smoking – Cigarette smoking or chewing tobacco

· Poor dental care -- Poor brushing and flossing habits

· Diseases -- Several diseases can affect enamel and its underlying surface

· Disease treatments -- Head and neck radiation and chemotherapy

· Medicines -- Tetracycline and doxycycline (when given to children whose teeth are still developing), antihistamines (like Benadryl), antipsychotic drugs, and antihypertensive medications

· Materials used in dentistry -- Silver sulfide-containing materials in metal (amalgam) restorations

· Your genetic history -- Some people have naturally brighter or thicker enamel

· Injury -- Damage from a fall, etc.

Why do some peoples’ teeth stain more than others?

Some factors may predispose patients to more discoloration, including:

· Genetic history – Some people simply have naturally brighter or thicker enamel.

· Minute enamel defects – These tiny defects allow staining substances to accumulate more rapidly for some individuals.

· Insufficient saliva – A substance that clears remaining food and early plaque, saliva can be in low supply for some individuals.

How do dentists correct stained teeth?

Before any form of teeth whitening is initiated, it’s essential that a dentist identify the source of a patient’s discoloration. Understanding why the staining has occurred helps to determine what teeth-whitening treatments are appropriate, or if alternative measures are required.

Some ways in which discolored teeth discolored teeth are corrected include the following:

· Bleaching – Bleaching alters your natural tooth color, typically making it five to seven shades brighter. In-office whitening and at-home whitening are both bleaching procedures. Bleaches contain carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide to remove deep and surface discoloration.

· Laser whitening – A targeted, high-intensity light beam is used to clear deep and surface stains. Results can be dramatic and can be achieved in as little as one session.

Those for whom whitening is not an option include people with tooth-colored fillings, caps, crowns or bonding—especially in their front teeth. Bleach isn’t effective on these materials as the whitening substance does not affect them. In these cases, dental veneers placed over the discolored teeth may be the best option.