Oral care routines, such as flossing and brushing, maintain healthy teeth. However, due to lifestyle, discoloration sets in without warning. Your teeth might appear yellow, black, purple, or brown, depending on the root cause of the stain. The good news is, the stains are treatable. Read on to learn a bit more about the causes of stained teeth and the possible treatment.
1. Injuries
Tooth discoloration stems from trauma. For example, if you trip and injure your teeth, darkening will occur to counter the damage. Usually, your teeth will lay down more dentin, a dark layer under your enamel, for protection against infection. Both adults and children experience dark stains on their teeth.
2. Drinks and Foods
Specific foods and drinks seep into the outer layers of your dentition, resulting in discoloration. While you are enjoying your favorite meal, stains are forming inevitably. Typical foods and drinks behind teeth staining are red wine, coffee, tea, red sauces, apples, potatoes, and more.
3. Tobacco Use
Chewing or smoking tobacco stains teeth. The prime staining culprits in tobacco are tar and nicotine. Typically, tar is dark, while nicotine comes with yellowish spots. Your dentist will likely help create a plan so you can quit tobacco to avoid various dental issues.
4. Medications
When your tooth darkens, the leading cause of the problem could be medications, such as antipsychotics and antihistamines. In addition, high blood pressure medication stains teeth over time. In kids, doxycycline and tetracycline lead to teeth discoloration right from infancy. In other circumstances, chemotherapy results in teeth darkening.
Treatment
It's no secret that discolored teeth culminate in self-esteem issues and lack of confidence. In that regard, the ultimate treatment option is to seek teeth whitening. The procedure entails the use of carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide to brighten your smile. You might get tempted to do it on your own, but it's prudent to consult a dentist first. The suitable candidates for teeth bleaching procedure include:
Patients with sensitive teeth, cavities, and tooth decay aren't the ideal individuals for the procedure. Nevertheless, you can treat the underlying conditions first and then book an appointment for teeth whitening. In addition to that, pregnant women and lactating mothers don't qualify for the treatment. If you have a child below 16 years, you will have to wait until they attain the right age to visit a dentist for teeth brightening.
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