The Top Causes of Tooth Discoloration

Tooth discoloration is a common concern with many adults, making teeth whitening a popular treatment to remove years of dental discoloration and quickly transform the smile.

Once teeth whitening treatment has been performed, the teeth can become discolored again if proper care isn't taken. Dr. Jean E. Barthman explains to patients how to protect their pearly whites both before and after whitening treatment.

One way to protect the brightness of the smile is to understand the top causes of tooth discoloration. If you live in or around Redwood City, CA and would like more information about the causes of tooth discoloration, we welcome you to schedule a consultation with Dr. Barthman.

In the meantime, let's consider some of the top causes of tooth discoloration.

Foods and Drinks

Foods and drinks are one of the biggest culprits when it comes to tooth discoloration. Some foods and drinks are more likely to stain the teeth than others.

Foods like tomatoes, dark-colored sauces, dark berries, acidic fruits, and colorful candies and sweets (especially ones that change the color of your tongue), can lead to tooth discoloration when eaten regularly.

There are many different types of drinks that can cause tooth discoloration. Some of the most common include coffee, dark teas, red wine, sodas, and acidic fruit juices.

Poor Dental Hygiene

Poor dental hygiene leaves plaque and food remnants on the teeth, making it another leading cause of tooth discoloration.

Poor dental hygiene can include any number of bad oral hygiene habits, like not brushing or flossing, inadequately brushing, or brushing with too much pressure, which can damage the enamel and expose the yellow dentin layer of the teeth.

Smoking and Tobacco Use

Besides being bad for overall health, smoking and tobacco use can severely discolor the teeth. The severity of staining largely depends on how long someone has been a smoker combined with how frequently they smoke.

Tobacco users may notice tobaccos stains start off as yellow and continue to darken to a brow, dark brown, or black color.

Age

For many of our Redwood City patients, the signs of aging can show on the teeth in many ways, like dental damage, general wear, and discoloration.

With age, the outer layer of the teeth, called the enamel, wears away. As the enamel wears away, the underlying layer, called dentin, becomes exposed. Dentin is naturally a yellow color so as more enamel wears away, more of the yellow dentin will show.

In addition to exposure of the dentin layer, years of eating and drinking foods that stain, smoking, and poor oral hygiene can all contribute to the natural aging process of the teeth and increase discoloration.

Injury or Trauma

An injury or trauma to the teeth can cause permanent discoloration to damaged teeth. When an injury happens in childhood, when the teeth are still developing, enamel formation may be interrupted and cause white spots to form on the teeth.

Adults who experience a dental injury may also develop tooth discoloration, specifically when a tooth's roots have been damaged. Injury to a tooth's roots can damage the blood vessels that nourish the tooth, potentially causing the tooth to die and turn black.

Certain Medications

Certain medications can increase the risk of tooth discoloration. Medicines that can discolor the teeth include high blood pressure medications, antihistamines, and mouth washes that contain cetylpyridinium chloried and chlorhexidine.

Children under the age of 8, or whose teeth are still developing, may develop tooth discoloration if given tetracycline or doxycycline antibiotics.

Schedule a Consultation

Teeth whitening treatment from Dr. Barthman can help lift several shades of tooth discoloration to reveal a more vibrant, youthful smile. To learn more about teeth whitening treatment, or other treatment options, please call (650) 367-4967 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Barthman.