Learn More About
Stained Teeth

You can tell that your teeth are stained if their colour is not bright as they should or used to be. While the type of staining can appear differently in various people, it generally appears yellowish to brownish in colour. However, this can also vary with age and the root cause. In some cases, the discolouration can appear more greyish.

Stains on your teeth may not necessarily cause you any harm, but they can certainly make you feel less confident about the appearance of your teeth or your smile. However, the cause of stains, such as smoking or poor oral hygiene, can lead to other dental problems and be detrimental to your oral health.

Several reasons can be the root cause of tooth discolouration, including the following:

• Poor dental hygiene.
  Skipping brushing or flossing your teeth can allow plaque to accumulate in your mouth. Unfortunately, this buildup of plaque can lead to tartar, which is a yellow, hardened deposit that can result in a yellowish appearance to your smile.
  
  
• Foods and drinks.
  Foods and beverages that are dark and acidic can often leave residue colour in your teeth. Frequent intake can let the buildup of stains remain in your teeth and make your smile look yellowish.
  
  
• Smoking cigarettes.
  The chemicals in cigarettes and tobacco can stain the teeth over the years of smoking. This is often one of the common reasons for tooth discolouration for many people.
  
  
• Certain medications.
  Drugs, such as antibiotics, tetracycline, doxycycline, and antihistamine, can affect enamel formation and causes tooth discolouration.
  
  
• Ageing.
  The dentine (the layer beneath the enamel) is naturally yellow. As we age, our teeth can experience worn out and expose yellowish dentine.

Taking care of your teeth and making some lifestyle changes can prevent tooth discolouration.

• Depending on how often you consume coffee, tea, wine, or dark-coloured foods reducing your consumption of these drinks and foods might help prevent tooth discolouration.
  
  
• Keeping up with regular dental check-ups and cleanings every six months are also essential for keeping your teeth clean and bright.
  
  
• Good oral hygiene is an important step for reducing the risk of tooth discolouration. So make it a habit to brush and floss your teeth to minimise unwanted stains.
  
  
• If you’re a smoker, quitting smoking can benefit your teeth and improve overall dental health.

If you notice any abnormal tooth discolouration that persists despite all these preventative measures, make an appointment with your dentist to take further precautions.

Yes. There are three types of tooth stains such as the following:

• Extrinsic staining.
  Extrinsic tooth stains form on the surface of the tooth. They are typically caused by a buildup of pigment residues from dark-coloured foods and regularly drinking coffee, tea, and wine. This type of tooth stain often responds well to professional dental cleaning and teeth whitening treatments.
  
  
• Intrinsic staining.
  Intrinsic tooth staining is a type of staining that appears below the surface of your teeth. This type of staining can be harder to reduce, as particles that cause the stains actually accumulate within the tooth enamel. Excessive fluoride use has been linked to intrinsic staining, especially among children. You may need to seek professional teeth bleaching and other cosmetic dental treatments to lighten the intrinsic tooth discolouration.
  
  
• Age-related teeth stains.
  Age-related tooth stains can be linked with thinning of the teeth as the person ages. The enamel surface becomes thinner, and the core tissue of the teeth, the dentine, becomes exposed.