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Generally, teeth are supposed to be as white as snow, although the colour may change with time. The change of the original white colour is known as tooth discoloration. Even though a bright smile is on everybody’s wish list, discoloured teeth shouldn’t make you feel less of yourself.
Tooth discoloration can occur to anyone under different circumstances. Luckily, you now understand some circumstances to help you stay safe. Most essentially, make regular visits to the family dentistry Mississauga even when you don’t have any prevailing issues. Being more qualified for the field, the dentist might detect other issues you might not have noticed.
Everything would be much easier if you understood the various causes of tooth discoloration and how to combat the nightmare. Let’s learn more about the common causes of tooth discoloration.
Types of tooth discoloration
There are several types of tooth discoloration depending on their location, cause, and complexity. The most popular types include:
Intrinsic tooth discoloration
The dentin darkens or forms a yellow tint due to tooth injury, tooth decay, trauma, or certain medications. Intrinsic tooth discoloration is quite complex to manage as it occurs from within.
Extrinsic tooth discoloration
The enamel discolours due to various habits such as uncontrolled coffee or wine consumption, smoking, or excessive consumption of certain junk foods. Extrinsic tooth discoloration is slightly easier to remove as it occurs on the tooth’s outer layer.
Age-related tooth discoloration
Age-related tooth discoloration combines intrinsic and extrinsic tooth discolorations, revealing symptoms from both cases. Age-related tooth discoloration is quite complex to remove.
Causes of tooth discoloration
There are six causes of tooth discoloration, which include age, drinks, illnesses, genetics, tobacco, and poor oral hygiene.
Cause #1: Age
Your teeth have served you for years, so don’t let them feel guilty for discolouring in your late adulthood. As the year’s pass, the teeth’ outer layer wears out and discolours from constant exposure to plenty of food particles, hot and cold drinks, and various conditions. The inner layer (dentin) also suffers from wear and tear, weakening and allowing discoloration.
Cause #2: Food & drinks
Due to their composition, certain foods and drinks can trigger tooth discoloration in the long run. As delicious as they may be, wine, soda, coffee, alcohol-based drinks, and juices are popularly known for causing tooth discoloration.
Experts have associated the beverage’s chemical composition as the primary catalyst for the issue. Some foods which cause tooth discoloration include several members of the berry family, citrus fruits, tomatoes, and cherries.
Cause #3: Illnesses & medications
Illnesses that affect the dentin and enamel can significantly result in tooth discoloration. An example is Celiac disease which leaves yellow or brown stains on the affected tooth when treated.
Some medications, such as chemotherapy and radiation, have also been associated with tooth discoloration. Tetracycline, an antibiotic, triggers tooth discoloration in infants and unborn children. Other medications include anti-hypertensive and antihistamines.
Cause #4: Oral hygiene
Sometimes it’s never about the medications or illness but your oral hygiene. Improper oral hygiene significantly causes the development of stains on one’s teeth, and the outcome may be complex to manage.
Irregular or inappropriate teeth brushing attracts tartar build-up in the long run, which later discolours your teeth. Poor oral hygiene is also associated with other issues, such as cavities and gum illnesses.
Cause #5: Genetics
Although a rare case, genetic factors can impact the colour of one’s enamel. Some yellowish enamels are caused by gene disorders and can be inherited by several generations. Unfortunately, gene-based tooth discoloration hardly reacts to over-the-counter whiteners, medications, or toothpaste.
Cause #6: Tobacco
Most people are familiar with the adverse effects of tobacco consumption (whether directly or indirectly) concerning dental health, gum diseases, bad breath, and tooth discoloration. Tobacco products contain tar and nicotine compounds which leave brown or yellow teeth on the user’s teeth in the long run.
Tobacco-based tooth discoloration can be quite complex to remove with over-the-counter whiteners as they lie deep into the enamel and dentin.
How to treat tooth discoloration
Tooth discoloration treatment methods vary depending on the cause and complexity of the issue. The most popular methods include the following:
- Application of over-the-counter whiteners to combat stains.
- Brushing and flossing more keenly than you were before.
- Home bleaching techniques with a doctor’s prescription.
- Professional teeth whitening entails using certain chemical-based compounds to bleach the affected teeth.
Tooth discoloration is relatively preventable with various measures and techniques. Some of the most popular measures include:
- Maintaining a regular water consumption schedule, especially after meals. Water washes away any food particles that would otherwise initiate tooth discoloration.
- Observe proper dental hygiene, which requires you to brush twice and floss once daily.
- Maintain a healthy diet free from foods that trigger tooth discoloration.
- Using a straw to avoid direct contact with teeth and beverages that cause tooth discoloration
- Visiting a dentist for regular check-ups can help minimize the chances of tooth discoloration.
- While it can be challenging to do away with some tooth-discolouring foods and beverages, minimizing their intake can be a great option.
You should seek a dentist’s attention as soon as you detect any change in your teeth’s colour which hasn’t responded to regular brushing and flossing. The dentist might then recommend suitable OTC whiteners to eliminate the stains. If the discoloration doesn’t disappear after using the whiteners, return to the dentist for further examination and treatment.
