What Are the Causes of Teeth Stains and How Can I Fix Them?

Your teeth are probably slightly discolored at this point. While proper care, brushing, flossing, and dental cleaning with a local dentist should be enough, there are just too many factors we can’t fully control. Even then, the natural color of teeth isn’t actually white, but a very slight yellow.

Certain food items (like coffee and tea) and practices (like smoking and drinking) lead to stained teeth over the years. Read on for a discussion on these causes and some solutions to these stains, as explained by dentists.

How Teeth Stains Develop

Even with years and years of exposure, it is actually quite impressive what our teeth can withstand. Our teeth handle all kinds of food, drink, smoking, and even medicines on a daily basis. All these contribute to staining, despite vigilant and vigorous cleaning.

Deep colors and staining agents are present in different kinds of food. It’s also in strong drinks like tea, coffee, liquor, red wine, alcoholic drinks, and sodas. Some of these drinks can even gradually strip the enamel, causing deeper stains. For example, some fruits and vegetables with heavy colors like beetroot and pomegranate can stain teeth. Neglecting to brush teeth, especially after tooth-staining, will definitely result in a less-than-stellar smile. The longer the residue sticks to teeth, the greater the stains.

Other causes are not related to items staining the teeth. Previous trauma or tooth injuries in childhood can cause stains well into adulthood. Medical procedures like chemotherapy or regular medications can also affect tooth quality.

As with anything, age also plays a factor, as the enamel layer also wears away with time. The inner layers of the teeth, unfortunately, are not white in color. 

Types of Teeth Staining

Extrinsic stains are on the surface only. Most of them are from the usual suspects, such as drinks, food, and smoking. More extreme versions may be caused by early tooth trauma or chronic coffee and cigarette consumption.

Most teeth whitening items, like whitening toothpaste, will work on brightening the enamel. Other people use over-the-counter dental whitening procedures, which work well enough at this level.

Intrinsic stains go beyond the enamel and sink into the deeper layers of the teeth. They are more moderate to severe in terms of discoloration. Still, most cleaning and bleaching procedures can remove these heavier stains.

Others may opt for veneers, especially if there is damage on the surface. It helps protect the tooth and gives it a fresh new color.

The discoloration from aging, as mentioned previously, happens because the enamel is worn down, which exposes the dentin layer. The tooth core is slightly yellow. Most cosmetic dentistry procedures can still reduce discoloration from dentin exposure, but more complex procedures may be necessary to restore the new quality of the teeth.

In Conclusion

Many of us, despite having good oral health habits, will experience stains and discoloration anyway. It is caused by many things that are hard to control. Many of the causes include our favorite foods and drinks. However, a dentist can solve many of these issues.

If your smiles have turned from white to yellow, do not fret. We at Dental House MI can restore the beauty and health of your teeth. We can provide you with an affordable dentist in Waterford to get your teeth back to normal.