What Are The Causes Of Tooth Discolouration?

Everyone wants a white smile, but there are certain things that discolour our teeth. Even so, there is always hope with the great whitening strategies available today.

Acquired Yellowing

We all do things that stain our teeth. It can happen from things like smoking and drinking dark-coloured drinks, like coffee, tea or cola. Eating stain-causing foods like beets can also be a culprit.

Inherent Discoloring

There are lots of causes for this kind of discolouration. Intrinsic stain can be caused by:

• Getting too much fluoride when you’re a child;
• Your mom taking tetracycline antibiotics during the last part of her pregnancy;
• You were given tetracycline antibiotics when you were eight or younger;
• Your tooth (teeth) experienced some kind of damage as a child, which caused harm to a growing permanent tooth;
• You have dentinogenesis imperfecta – a rare condition causing gray, yellow or purple discolourations.

You Can’t Hide Your Age

Increased discolouration comes with advanced age. Dentin (or your tooth’s inner structure) naturally yellows as you get older. Add to that thinning enamel and that dentin starts to show itself. Having chips or injuries that haven’t been addressed can also cause discolouration.

What You Can Do To Get A Whiter Smile

A professional cleaning might help the situation some. More than likely, stains like coffee or red wine would be lessened by a good cleaning. A lot of stains are pretty stubborn and some can be remedied by your dentist using a bleaching gel. But in the most severe cases, you may need a crown or veneer to put it right.

Most discolouration that’s acquired can be remedied with an easy fix. In addition to having regular cleanings, take good care of your teeth at home. That includes regular brushing, flossing and rinsing.

Your Dentist Can Help

Your dentist may suggest in-office whitening sessions. For this procedure a whitening varnish is applied to the teeth and in a few hours one teeth can be altered up to four shades lighter. In addition or as an alternative, your dentist might give you a customized mouthguard and bleaching gel to use at home. Since they’re not as strong as those used in office, the desired effect may take seven to ten days. Results vary of course. For some people their desired results are achieved quickly and others need more time.

Dr. David Silberman and his team can help you get your whitest smile possible. Give Dr. Silberman’s office a call today to book your consultation.