Tooth Stains
There is no denying that a bright smile can significantly boost your confidence. However, sometimes, small issues like tooth stains can affect both your appearance and how you feel about yourself. Today, we will walk you through different types of tooth stains, what causes them, and, more importantly, effective solutions to help you remove them and restore your smile’s natural brightness.
What Are Tooth Stains?
Tooth stains are changes in the colour of your teeth, which cause them to look less white. These stains can appear on the outer surface of the tooth or deeper inside the tooth. Understanding the difference between these two types of tooth stains is important for choosing the right treatment to remove them.
Extrinsic Tooth Stains
Extrinsic tooth stains are a type of discolouration that affects the outer layer of your teeth, known as enamel. These stains affect only the surface of the teeth, which means they are easier to address than stains that go deeper. Extrinsic tooth stains can change your teeth’ natural colour and make them look yellow, brown, or a little darker and less bright. They are more noticeable because they affect the surface of the tooth rather than going into deeper layers.
Causes of Extrinsic Stains
Extrinsic tooth stains happen when external substances, like coffee, tea, or tobacco, come into contact with your teeth.
Foods and Drinks
Eating and drinking certain things can leave stains on your teeth. Drinks like coffee, tea, red wine, and cola have dark pigments that stick to your enamel and make your teeth look discoloured over time. Similarly, foods such as berries, tomato-based sauces, and curries have strong pigments that may contribute to staining.
Lifestyle Habits
Your lifestyle choices may also lead to surface stains on your teeth. Smoking or using tobacco products exposes your teeth to tar and nicotine, which can result in yellow or brown stains. Additionally, poor oral hygiene can also make things worse because plaque and tartar build-up can make it easier for stains to stick to your teeth.
Environmental Factors
Environmental factors may contribute to tooth staining as well. Being exposed to certain metals, such as iron or copper, from work or medications may lead to discolouration. For instance, iron may leave black stains, while copper can leave a greenish stain.
Intrinsic Tooth Stains
Intrinsic tooth stains affect the inner layer of your tooth, called the dentine, and are harder to remove than surface stains. These stains can make your teeth appear yellow, grey, or even brownish, depending on what has caused them. Because these stains have formed deeper inside the tooth, regular brushing or whitening products won’t help. Your cosmetic dentist will suggest professional treatments to address this type of discolouration.
Causes of Intrinsic Stains
Various factors may lead to intrinsic tooth stains, such as genetics, medical conditions, medications, or trauma.
Genetic Factors
Some people are born with conditions that affect how their teeth develop, which can lead to intrinsic staining. For example, amelogenesis imperfecta affects the enamel and can make teeth yellow or brown and more susceptible to staining. Dentinogenesis imperfecta can also affect dentin and cause teeth to appear blue-grey or amber.
Medical Conditions and Medications
Some medical conditions and treatments may cause deep tooth discolouration. For example, too much fluoride intake during childhood can lead to fluorosis, which shows up as white or brown spots on the teeth. If children take tetracycline antibiotics while their teeth are developing, it may result in greyish-brown stains inside their teeth.
Trauma and Decay
If you’ve had an injury to a tooth, it could damage the internal structure and lead to deep staining. Trauma may cause your tooth to turn grey over time due to pulp necrosis (death of the pulp). This discolouration happens because pigments from the damaged tissue and blood penetrate the dentin.
Prevention: Keeping Tooth Stains at Bay
Preventing Extrinsic Tooth Stains
Brush and Floss Daily: Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste to clean the surface of your teeth and remove plaque. Don’t forget to floss daily to reach areas between your teeth where stains can form.
Rinse After Meals: Swish water around your mouth after eating to help wash away food particles and prevent them from sticking to your enamel.
Limit Stain-Causing Foods and Drinks: Reduce how often you consume coffee, tea, red wine, dark berries, and other coloured foods and drinks that can lead to stains.
Eat Crunchy Fruits and Vegetables: Include foods like apples, carrots, and celery in your diet. They act as natural scrubbers for your teeth while you eat.
Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day, especially after consuming foods or drinks that may stain your teeth.
Make Smart Lifestyle Choices: Quit smoking or using tobacco products because they are a major cause of tooth discolouration.
Preventing Intrinsic Tooth Stains
Start Early with Dental Care: During childhood, monitor fluoride intake to avoid excessive exposure, which can cause white or brown spots on teeth. Speak with your dentist if your child needs specific medications, because some of them can affect developing teeth.
Protect Teeth from Injuries: Use a mouthguard during sports or activities that may lead to dental trauma.
Stay Consistent with Check-Ups: Visiting your dentist Perth regularly helps keep your teeth healthy and catch problems early. Plus, your dentist can provide professional cleanings to remove stains and keep your teeth shiny. Regular check-up and clean can help prevent deep stains and other dental concerns.
Removing Extrinsic Stains
At-Home Solutions
Toothbrushing Techniques: Brush your teeth with a soft-bristled brush and hold it at a 45-degree angle to your gums. Use gentle, circular motions to remove surface stains and be careful not to damage your tooth enamel.
Whitening Toothpastes and Mouthwashes: Use products that contain mild abrasives or ingredients like hydrogen peroxide to reduce stains.
Using these products regularly can gradually and safely reduce discolouration over time. Always check with your dentist to make sure they are the right options for you.
Professional Cleaning Options
Dental Scaling and Polishing: During a professional tooth cleaning, your dentist can remove plaque and tartar build-up. This process helps smooth your teeth, so they’re less likely to stain again.
Professional Whitening: You can expect fast and noticeable results from in-office whitening treatments because they use stronger bleaching agents. These treatments are safe and effective if they are performed under a dentist’s supervision and can often brighten your smile in just one visit.
Treating Intrinsic Stains
Advanced Whitening Treatments
High-Concentration Bleaching Gels: Your dentist may decide to use strong bleaching gels to address deep stains inside the tooth. These treatments work better than over-the-counter options.
Light-Activated or Laser Whitening: Your dentist may use special lights or lasers to activate the whitening agents and make the process faster and more effective. This can make your teeth brighter after just one session.
Cosmetic Solutions
Dental Veneers: Your dentist may suggest using veneers. These are thin ceramic layers that are bonded to the front of your teeth to cover stubborn stains. Veneers can improve the colour and overall look of your teeth.
Dental Crowns: Cosmetic dentists may recommend a crown to cover the entire tooth. Dental crowns can hide discolouration and restore a tooth’s natural look. Crowns are a great option if the tooth is also damaged or weakened.
Dental Bonding: Sometimes, a composite resin can also be applied to the surface of the tooth to hide discolouration. Bonding is affordable, quick, and blends well with natural tooth colour.
Emerging Technologies
Laser Therapy: Dentists may use lasers to target and remove deep stains inside the tooth.
Ultrasonic Tools: Ultrasonic tools use vibrations to clean and whiten teeth and are more effective than traditional methods. They are especially helpful in reducing stubborn stains and improving the overall brightness of your teeth.
Choosing the Right Treatment
To treat tooth stains effectively, our dentists will first figure out what type of stain you have. Extrinsic stains affect the surface of the teeth, while intrinsic stains go deeper and need more advanced treatments. Once they have identified the type of tooth stains you have, they can create a personalised plan that is suitable to your needs.
Visit Acts Dental for a Brighter Smile
Brighten your smile and feel confident with professional care at Acts Dental. Our expert team is here to help you tackle tooth stains and keep your teeth looking their best. No one plans for dental emergencies, but when accidents do happen, having an emergency dentist Perth in mind can make all the difference. You can also trust our team for safe and professional wisdom tooth removal in Perth, handled by experienced dental professionals.
Furthermore, we are proud to be an HCF-preferred provider, Bupa-preferred provider, HBF-preferred provider, Medibank-preferred provider, and NIB-preferred provider dentist in Perth.
Call us today to book your appointment at (08) 9474 5083.