Have you always wanted a whiter, brighter, more beautiful smile?
Patients with whiter teeth tend to feel more confident when they smile. Whitening your teeth can take years off your appearance and leave you feeling happy and more confident. Discolored teeth are a common dental concern that we treat every day.
Fuller Dental offers a range of teeth whitening options for improving the appearance of your smile. We offer cosmetic smile makeovers and quick and effective teeth whitening treatments.
Treatment for Tooth Stains
Treatment for tooth discoloration will vary depending on the cause. Your Fuller Dentist will provide a complete oral health exam to determine the optimal treatment option. Combining treatments will help some patients create the whiter, brighter smile they want.
- Tooth Whitening: Teeth whitening is an effective, affordable, and safe cosmetic treatment that can brighten your smile. We offer in-office teeth whitening, which can whiten your teeth in just over an hour. We also offer at-home whitening as an easy and convenient way to brighten your smile.
- Dental Veneers: Veneers are thin, custom shells that cover your natural teeth to brighten them instantly. They blend with your smile and feel comfortable due to skillful artistry and high-quality materials.
- Dental Bonding: Teeth bonding is minimally invasive, and we can often complete it in a single visit. This instantly leaves your smile whiter. Bonding uses a resin material that matches the natural color of teeth. Your dentist will cure it to the teeth using hardening light. The teeth being treated will blend in very well with the rest of your natural teeth.
- Dental Crowns: A dental crown covers the entire tooth, and we permanently bond it into place. This instantly leaves your teeth whiter and more durable. They are stain and decay-resistant and can last for many years.
Causes of Tooth Stains
Tooth discoloration can happen for many reasons. Understanding the causes can help you keep your teeth looking healthy and bright.
There are two main types of discoloration: extrinsic and intrinsic. Extrinsic discoloration affects the surface of the teeth, while intrinsic discoloration happens inside the tooth. Both types have different causes; some are easier to prevent than others.
Foods and Drinks That Stain Teeth
One of the most common causes of tooth discoloration is the food and drinks we consume. Certain beverages, like coffee, tea, and red wine, can cause stains over time. These drinks contain tannins, compounds that stick to the surface of the teeth and leave behind yellow or brown marks.
The more often you drink these beverages, the more likely they cause stains. Dark-colored foods, such as berries, soy sauce, and curry, can also cause discoloration for the same reason.
To help avoid stains, try drinking these beverages with a straw or rinse your mouth with water after consuming them. Limiting how often you drink staining beverages can also help protect your teeth from discoloration.
Smoking and Tobacco Use
Smoking or using tobacco products is another leading cause of tooth discoloration. The tar and nicotine in tobacco create yellow or brown stains on the teeth that are difficult to remove. Over time, these stains can penetrate deeply in the enamel.
People who smoke or chew tobacco are likelier to have dull, yellow teeth. The longer someone uses tobacco, the more staining and damage can occur.
Quitting smoking or tobacco use can help prevent further staining and improve the overall appearance of your teeth. Regular brushing and visits to the dentist are also important in removing surface stains caused by tobacco.
Poor Oral Hygiene
If you don’t brush and floss your teeth regularly, plaque and tartar can build up. Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that can lead to tooth discoloration if you don’t remove it. As plaque hardens, it turns into tartar, making cleaning your teeth even more difficult. Plaque and tartar can cause your teeth to appear yellow and dull, leading to other oral health problems like cavities and gum disease.
Brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and flossing once daily can help remove plaque and prevent tartar buildup. Regular dental checkups will also help remove any tartar that may have developed, keeping your teeth looking bright.
Medications and Health Conditions
Some medications can cause tooth discoloration as a side effect. Certain antibiotics, like tetracycline, can cause teeth to turn gray or yellow. This is especially true for children whose teeth are still developing.
Some antihistamines and blood pressure medications can also cause staining. These medications may affect the enamel on your teeth, making them more vulnerable to stains.
If you are concerned that a medication may be causing tooth discoloration, talk to your doctor or dentist. They may be able to recommend an alternative medication or suggest ways to manage the discoloration.
Aging and Trauma
As you age, your enamel naturally wears down, and the yellowish layer beneath it, called dentin, becomes more visible. This process is natural and can lead to teeth that look more yellow or dull. Although you cannot prevent aging, maintaining good oral hygiene can help slow the process and keep your smile looking bright.
Trauma to a tooth, such as a fall or injury, can also cause discoloration. The blood vessels inside may break due to tooth damage. This can cause the tooth to turn gray or dark. Sometimes the discoloration goes away on its own, but other times a dentist may need to treat it to restore the color.
Discolored Teeth FAQs
Discolored teeth are a cosmetic problem almost any person struggles with at some point. Learn more about this condition by reading the answers to these frequently asked questions.
Can you save a discolored tooth?
Yes, we can save a discolored tooth no matter what kind of staining it has. We offer multiple different options, including professional teeth whitening and porcelain veneers. We assess your tooth and determine the root cause of the staining before we proceed with treatment. It ensures that we use a method that fits your specific case.
Are there complications with discolored teeth?
Discolored teeth are more likely to have cavities and other oral health problems. Tobacco and poor oral hygiene are both causes of tooth discoloration. These things increase your chances of having small holes in your teeth or gum disease and inflammation.
Do discolored teeth keep getting worse?
Yes. If you don’t treat them, discoloration continues to get worse. If an infection causes it, it continues growing inside the tooth. If diet and lifestyle habits are the cause, continuing these activities will continue to stain your teeth.
Does tooth discoloration mean the tooth is dead?
Not always, but sometimes it can be. If your tooth is black or grey, it’s most likely a dead tooth. Brown and yellow stains often come from tobacco use, drinking coffee, or natural discoloration that happens with age. Plaque and tartar buildup can also cause it.
What causes teeth to turn brown at the gum line?
Especially at your gum line, brown staining is commonly plaque and tartar buildup. It means you aren’t properly caring for your oral health. Ensuring you’re cleaning around the gums properly is a bit harder. We can recommend different techniques and provide a deep cleaning to ensure everything is done properly.
Do I need to treat my discolored teeth?
Sometimes, tooth discoloration isn’t harmful to your oral health. For example, your teeth become more off-white as you age. Usually, they’ll be a yellowish color.
However, darker stains, such as brown and black, indicate a more serious issue. Schedule an appointment regardless of whether you’re uncomfortable with the color of your smile.
Request A Dental Exam Today
If you want to improve the appearance of your smile, contact Fuller Dental by requesting an appointment online today. You can achieve a whiter, brighter, more beautiful smile.