Teeth Discoloration Causes and How to Avoid It
You’re not a very lucky person if you’re living with discolored and unpleasant teeth.
Tooth discoloration is the darkening of your teeth for several reasons, such as smoking, dark-colored foods, beverages, excessive use of fluoride, etc.
Teeth discoloration can be classified into two major types: extrinsic and intrinsic. In extrinsic discoloration, the outer surface of your teeth is damaged, whereas in intrinsic discoloration, the layer underneath your enamel is damaged.
The causes of tooth discoloration can be classified into two parts. Avoidable causes, such as smoking and poor oral hygiene, and unavoidable causes, like aging, trauma, and disease.
In this article, we will explore the significant causes of tooth discoloration and suggest remedial measures to prevent and cure it.
Major Causes of Discolored Teeth
The causes of discolored teeth can be classified into two categories: avoidable and unavoidable.
Some Avoidable Causes
Avoidable causes are those causes that can be avoided by adopting preventive measures. Several things can cause discolored teeth.
Dusky-Colored Soft Drinks and Food
Dark-colored foods as well as beverages like coffee, tea, red wine, and soy sauce are primary causes that can stain your teeth.
Tobacco
If you are addicted to smoking or using products that contain tobacco, you are at high risk of being the victim of teeth discoloration.
Neglect Oral Hygiene
If you don’t brush your teeth, they can get plaque, the biggest reason for discoloration. Research shows that brushing incorrectly can lead to plaque and other dental diseases.
Use of Fluoride In Large Quantity
Fluoride is an incredible way to protect your teeth, but if you are addicted to excessive fluoride, you are more likely to develop discolored teeth. So, minimize using it.
Unavoidable tooth discoloration causes include the following:
Genetics Can Be Responsible
Genetics is the most prominent cause of teeth discoloration. If your parents or even one has developed discolored teeth, it might be in your genes.
Trauma
The causes of dental trauma are falls, car crashes, and sports-related injuries.
Aging Leads to Discolored Teeth
Aging is another factor of tooth discoloration. As you age, enamel wears away and unmasks dark dentine under it. As a result, your tooth looks more yellowish.
Some Medications
Several medicines, such as blood pressure control drugs, can cause the teeth to discolor.
Radiation of Cancer Treatment
Radiation is most lethal for dental health. In cancer treatment, chemotherapy of the head and neck causes the teeth to discolor.
How to Avoid Teeth Discoloration?
Care and treatment of teeth discoloration depend on the underlying cause, whether the stains damage the outer layer or layer of the enamel. Whether your teeth discoloration results from an avoidable or unavoidable cause, consulting your trusted teeth cleaning dentists is wise and prevents many other dental issues.
Tips to Avoid Tooth Discoloration
Teeth Whitening Treatment
Professional teeth whitening uses hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide to split up stains and lift them from your teeth. Professional whitening works best on surface stains. Some whitening products can remove deep dental stains. In-office bleaching takes around an hour to complete. Most take-home whitening treatments require only 30 to 40 minutes daily for up to four weeks.
Dental Bonding
Dental bonding is an effective treatment for tooth whitening. In this procedure, a fine and the same tooth-colored object is placed on affected teeth to change their color and shape. Unlike other treatments, dental bonding is cost-effective and has a long-lasting impact.
Get Porcelain Veneers
Dental veneers are carbon copies of natural teeth made up of porcelain shells that cover the front part, especially eight teeth. Professional dentists use these veneers to cover cracks, stains, and discoloration. They not only improve appearance but also provide support to whole adjacent teeth. You can get many types of veneer treatment according to your situation and recommendations.
Summing Up
Teeth discoloration is the changing of colors of your teeth. There are some major causes of tooth discoloration, such as avoidable and unavoidable. In general, preventable causes like smoking, foods, and beverages affect the outer layer of teeth. On the other hand, inevitable causes like aging and dental trauma damage the inner layer of teeth. We have discussed everything about teeth discoloration and available whitening treatments. So, consult a professional dentist if you’re struggling with dark teeth issues.
