Everything You Need to Know about Teeth Stains
Teeth stains can be a common problem for many people. If you have teeth stains, they look yellow or brown. The cause of teeth discoloration can be caused by various factors, including your food and drink choices, oral hygiene, and medication use. Most people don’t realize that teeth stains can occur on both the tooth’s surface or below the tooth enamel. It is even possible for some people to develop both types of teeth discoloration. The team at Archbold Family Dental would like to educate you on the three types of teeth stains that some people may encounter sometime in their life.
Types of Teeth Stains
Contrary to what many people may think, tooth stains don’t only occur on the surface of the tooth; they can also occur below the tooth enamel. In fact, Teeth discoloration can be caused by surface stains, as well as actual changes in your tooth substance or a mix of both. Here are the three types of teeth stains one may encounter:
- Extrinsic Teeth Stains: An extrinsic tooth stain is staining on the surface of the tooth. It occurs when stain particles, such as pigmented residue from food or drink, build up in the film of protein that covers the tooth enamel. Some causes of extrinsic tooth stains are typically due to tobacco use and regularly drinking coffee, tea, wine, or soda. This type of tooth stain responds well to regular dental cleaning and brushing the teeth with whitening toothpaste.
- Intrinsic Teeth Stains: An intrinsic tooth stain is staining below the surface of the tooth. It occurs when stain-causing particles work through the tooth’s exterior and accumulate within the tooth enamel. An intrinsic tooth stain is trickier to remove, but it can be done, though it may require teeth-whitening products.
- Age-Related Teeth Stains: Age-related teeth stains combine the results of both intrinsic and extrinsic tooth discoloration. Teeth discolor with age because the core tissue of your teeth naturally yellows over time. The enamel that covers the tooth becomes thinner as we age, allowing the dentin to show through. These intrinsic causes of discoloration combined with extrinsic causes will cause most adults’ teeth to discolor with age.
Although there are many reasons as to why your teeth can become discolored, that doesn’t mean you can’t keep your smile pearly white still. Getting your teeth whitened can reverse color-related issues caused by any of these factors and can restore the white, bright look of your teeth. Contact us today to get your teeth whitened.