The Causes Of Tooth Discoloration – Do You Know The Most Important Of Them?

Dentists study the appearance and morphology of the dentition to find out what causes tooth discoloration, how to treat it, and how to prevent it. It is also a cosmetic problem for patients. Discoloration that makes your teeth dull shouldn’t affect your smile and the way you speak.

Let’s look at some of the possible causes of this common problem.

Types of tooth discoloration

First, it’s important to know that there are two types of tooth discoloration:

1. External

These discolorations affect the outer layers of the tooth. They are often caused by pigmented residues from various beverages and foods. They can be caused by wine, coffee or soy sauce.

Smokers also have external tooth discoloration caused by tobacco. However, they can also appear due to the aging and wear of the teeth, even without exposure to the above factors.

2. Internal

These stains behind the teeth affect the inner layer of the dentition. They may be caused by an injury or a birth defect.

Occasionally, they can develop when a woman takes a certain medication, such as tetracyclines, during pregnancy. One particular condition that causes tooth discoloration is fluorosis, caused by excessive fluoride consumption.

The causes of tooth discoloration

Below we present the most common causes of tooth discoloration in humans. Some of them are:

• Aging. The enamel darkens over the years. Wear and tear wears away tooth enamel, revealing inner layers that are different in color.
• Food. As we mentioned above, certain drinks and foods can stain your teeth. Coffee is one of the products that dye your teeth. Red wine, carrots, citrus fruits, and vinegar erode enamel and can discolor your teeth.

• Tobacco. Nicotine stains teeth brown.
• Natural color. Not all teeth are the same color. From birth, the different colors of the bone shades can make the discoloration more visible.
• Anxieties. Certain medications, such as diphenhydramine and chlorhexidine, are associated with tooth discoloration. However, this only happens when they are eaten for a long time. Other drugs, including tetracyclines, interfere with childhood tooth formation.
• Fluorosis. When a person consumes more than recommended fluoride, it builds up in their body, especially on their teeth. Fluoride in the teeth causes discoloration.
• Injury. This is especially common in children whose teeth are still developing, so an injury can alter the growth process by creating stains.
• Inadequate hygiene. Lack of brushing or poor technique can discolor your teeth.

Many factors can cause tooth discoloration. Certain products, medications, and injuries are common causes.

The colors of the discoloration on the teeth

Not all tooth discoloration is the same. They come in different colors depending on the cause that caused them. Color is important to the dentist who is consulting about the discoloration as it can help identify the underlying cause.

For example, white spots indicate fluorosis. The stains caused by plaque build-up are also white, which is more visible the worse the oral hygiene is. The brown color is usually caused by eating or drinking.

Tobacco also causes brownish teeth. Accumulation of food debris causes yellow patches. The yellow color on the teeth is caused by the exposed bacterial plaque that is formed by microorganisms. Due to the lack of hygiene, it is their place of development.

Green spots are more common at a young age. Like yellow spots, they are associated with poor brushing. The green pigment behind this color is called phenazine and is caused by specific bacteria and fungi.

Finally, black spots on the teeth result from a high intake of iron or drugs such as chlorhexidine. They are a symptom of periodontitis.

Teeth staining is an important sign in dentistry as it can lead a specialist to certain diagnoses.

How to prevent discoloration on teeth

You can follow general guidelines to avoid stains on your teeth. Some of them are :

• Improve your oral hygiene. Brushing your teeth correctly and frequently are the main ways to protect your teeth.
• Visit the dentist. You need to go to the dentist regularly to check your teeth and get the correct recommendations.
• Reduce the consumption of beverages such as coffee and sodas.
• Avoid or quit smoking.

Have you noticed stains on your teeth?

If so, make an appointment with your dentist to find out what’s going on.