WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF YOUR TOOTH DISCOLORATION?

Multiple things can cause your teeth to lose their luminosity. Tooth discoloration can turn your white teeth into various colors or you may develop spots in many places of your teeth.

Causes of Tooth Discoloration

• Foods/drinks. Tea, coffee, sauces, wines, colas, popsicles, or chocolates, are known as villains of teeth staining. Even, fruits and vegetables such as berries, apples, and potatoes can stain your teeth’ enamel. However, we do not recommend you entirely, stop eating these foods. But just be aware and consume these foods in moderation. And make sure that you rinse/brush your teeth after meals.  
• Tobacco. Smoking and chewing tobacco can transform your teeth’ color into black or brown.
• Poor dental hygiene. When you do not brush, floss, or rinse correctly to eliminate stain-producing substances, it can cause discoloration. Whenever you skip dental cleanings, you allow your stains to form.
• Disease.  Conditions like liver disease, calcium deficiency, metabolic diseases, and eating disorders impact the tooth enamel and may change your tooth color. Neck radiation and chemotherapy may also cause teeth discoloration.
• Medications. The antibiotics such as tetracycline and doxycycline stain teeth when given to children whose teeth are still developing. Antipsychotic drugs, and certain mouth rinses, containing chlorhexidine and cetylpyridinium chloride may even cause teeth stains.
• Dental materials. Some materials used in dentistry, such as amalgam restorations, may result in gray-black color to your teeth.
• Aging. Aging causes the outer layer of your enamel to gradually wear away. And then, it slowly exposes the color of your dentin.
• Genetics. Your heredity may also be responsible for your teeth’ color!
• Environment. Too much fluoride from water, fluoride-containing toothpaste, rinses, or even supplements may also cause teeth discoloration.
• Trauma. Damage from a fall can hamper enamel formation in kids whose teeth are developing. It can also cause discoloration to adult teeth.

Tooth discoloration types

• Yellow: Aging may cause your white enamel to wear down. The yellow core which is the dentin of teeth turns more visible.
• Brown:  Tobacco, dark beverages, and poor brushing habits can make teeth brown.
• White: As young teeth develop, too much fluoride can lead to white spots. 
• Black: Tooth or tooth pulp necrosis may turn your teeth to grayish or black color. Fillings and crowns that consist of silver sulfide can also make your teeth black. Exposure to minerals like manganese, iron, or silver can leave a black line on your teeth.
• Purple: Red wine can turn your teeth purplish.

Treatments

Treatments can differ as it depends on the cause of the discoloration. This includes:

• In-home whitening kit purchase from a dentist or in-office whitening.
• Tooth Bonding Process. 
• Veneers Treatment. 

However, if you use over-the-counter whitening products, without the recommendation of the dentist, it can irritate your gums, whereas Professional in-office treatments are safe and give excellent results.

Get the Help you need!

Now, if you’re in the search of a cosmetic dentist, then surely visit our dentist in Katy at Heritage Dental. We provide you with the best Teeth Whitening service in Katy, TX. We are looking forward to meeting you and seeing you smile. Call us or book an appointment online.