Teeth stains could be extrinsic (on the surface of your teeth) or intrinsic (stains on the inner structure of the tooth dentin). There can be many causes for stained teeth, from the type of food you eat and drink to your genetics.
What causes discoloured teeth?
1. Lifestyle
One of the first assumptions you can make about why your teeth are stained is due to the type of food and drinks consumed. Certain foods contain a specific ingredient called tannins. This is an organic substance found in plants and can also be found in coffee black tea, and wine – which many know to cause stains.
Another lifestyle choice that would stain your teeth is the habit of smoking. Smoking or chewing on nicotine products is more likely to cause your enamel to stain. Tobacco in cigarettes tends to cause stains that usually look yellow, brown or even black.
2. Bad oral hygiene
Proper oral hygiene can sometimes be overlooked. But it’s one of the simplest ways to prevent teeth stains. As you eat and drink throughout the day, plaque will naturally build up. This can turn into tartar and impart a yellow to brownish colour on your teeth if good oral hygiene is not yet in your routine.
3. Misaligned teeth
Different bite problems can sometimes make it difficult to keep your oral hygiene on point. Misalignments like crowding or rotations are harder to thoroughly brush and floss through the crevices of your teeth. This can lead to tartar buildup and make the discolouration look even more obvious.
4. Braces stains
5. Natural causes
Tooth discolouration is also a product of several natural factors like genetics and aging. Natural causes like aging can cause your teeth to be more susceptible to stains. Over time, your enamel thins showcasing the natural colour which has a yellow tint. Enamel underdevelopment as a child is also a factor as to why some individual’s teeth look yellow.
Are teeth stains permanent?
Yes, stained teeth can return back to their original colour with scaling and polishing done at the dental clinic. However, to achieve brighter teeth, whitening products must be used.
How to remove and prevent stains on teeth
Removing stains are easier for surface stains, however those with intrinsic teeth discolouration will benefit from cosmetic dentistry offers options to “cover up” the discoloration such as porcelain veneers.
1. Proper oral care
It is not enough to just brush your teeth, you should make sure you follow the best methods for brushing properly, which includes a recommended 2 minutes brush time. Besides that, using an electric toothbrush vs a manual toothbrush, adding flossing to your routine and using mouthwash also helps to remove stain-producing substances and fight plaque buildup.
2. Whitening
If your pearly whites are not looking so white anymore, you could consider whitening treatments. There are many forms of whitening treatments such as in-clinic/dentist whitening, at-home teeth bleaching, whitening pens and whitening strips. The effectiveness of each treatment varies as well as the prices, which you can read more about them here .
Do keep in mind though, whitening may result in some side effects such as teeth sensitivity as hydrogen peroxide is a common active ingredient used in teeth whitening treatments, which can cause teeth to become temporarily porous and thus more sensitive.
You can consider simpler and gentler teeth whitening procedures such as Zenyum whitening strips which is a lot gentler for sensitive teeth and gums.
3. Form new habits
You can practise reducing your intake of coffee, wine, other food & drink that is known to cause stains. Whether or not you’re able to resist consuming your favourites, always remember to rinse your mouth after eating and drinking with mouthwash or at the very least with clean water.
4. Dental visits
Keep a regular schedule of visiting the dentist at least every six months. Your dentist would be able to recommend dental work such as scaling and polishing on a regular basis to remove discolouration or darkness of teeth that is a surface stain.
5. Invisible Braces
We said it once and we will say it again! Straight teeth are always easier to clean than misaligned teeth. If your teeth aren’t overlapped it will be so much easier to brush and floss so you can ensure that nothing gets stuck in between. You can read more here about why straightening your teeth with Zenyum Invisible Braces will help prevent coffee and tea teeth stains.
