Stains on teeth are highly anesthetic and a frequent reason for consultation with the dentist, in this article we will go go through: Causes of tooth discoloration; Causes of tooth stains; How to deal and remove tooth stains.
Teeth can change color and stain for many reasons, including:
- certain foods and drinks,
- poor oral hygiene,
- age,
- medication,
- use of fixed orthodontic appliances, etc
Types of Dental Stains
Extrinsic stains:
These consist of the pigmentation on the surface of the tooth and occur due to the pigmentation of plaque and tartar due to the consumption of certain foods or drinks, such as tea or coffee, tobacco, etc.
This type of stain is easily removed in the Oral Hygiene consultation and its prevention is carried out by a good oral hygiene technique and by reducing or stopping the consumption of pigmenting agents.
Intrinsic stains:
As the name implies, they affect the tooth structure itself, that is, inside the tooth:
- Stains due to excessive consumption of fluoride, certain diseases and viruses, use of some antibiotics such as Tetracycline, during growth up to 8-10 years (while the tooth has not yet erupted).
- Darkening of the tooth from trauma or previous root canal treatment. This type of color change responds very well to internal bleaching. See case Example of Internal Bleaching
To deal with intrinsic stains we usually have to remove them and then restore the tooth either with a direct composite restoration or, for optimum results, place Dental Ceramic Veneers. See here an example of this procedure.
Age-related tooth stains
These are usually a combination of the previous two.
With age, the thickness of the enamel decreases due to wear and tear and the next layer of the tooth becomes visible: the dentin, which is more yellowish and also becomes darker with age. To this intrinsic alteration in the color of the teeth, extrinsic stains will be added, resulting in a progressively more yellowish and stained smile, as you can see in the case of Smile Lifting, bruxism and veneers.
Causes of tooth stains
There are many causes of tooth discoloration, some that can be prevented and others that are beyond the patient’s control:
· Food, drink: coffee, tea, pigmented soft drinks, red wine are some of the most frequent causes of tooth stains.
· Tobacco
· Poor oral hygiene, poor brushing technique and not using dental floss can and do lead to the appearance of stains on the teeth due to the pigmentation of dental plaque that forms every day.
· Trauma or disease a tooth may darken following trauma, almost always indicating damage to the tooth pulp. In these cases, we can revert the tooth to its initial color by performing root canal treatment and internal whitening.
· Certain diseases such as a virus that occurs in a child under eight years old (when the permanent teeth are still in development) can cause stains on these teeth. The use of antibiotics, such as tetracycline during this period, could also be responsible for stains and very extensive changes in several or all teeth.
· Fixed dental appliances associated with poor oral hygiene. White spots may appear around the brackets glued to the teeth and become very apparent after removal of the braces. These stains are due to the accumulation of bacterial plaque on the brackets, which in the first place promotes a decalcification of the tooth that gives rise to white spots and may even give rise to cavities in these areas. See the case Smile Lifting and Harmonization of the Gingival Limit and the Case Correction of Extremely Stained Teeth with Ceramic Veneers.
· Dental restorations: Many times when treating teeth in the anterior sector and care is not taken to preserve the outer layer of enamel, approaching the tooth from the lingual side, the composites will be visible on the front part of the tooth. In a first phase this may not even be a problem, but as we know Composites do not have color stability and with time they will stain, becoming very unsightly. In these cases, we will have to change the composites or, to definitively resolve the situation, resort to Dental Ceramic Veneers.
How to treat tooth stains
Apart from the Basics:
Regularly Oral Hygiene Appointment
Good oral hygiene routine: brushing two to three times a day and flossing once a day
Stop smoking, if you can (your health will thank you)
Try to drink less coffee and tea.
There are some procedures that will help to give you a whiter stain-free smile.
Tooth whitening/Bleaching
There are several ways to whiten your teeth using various types of products and methods, with varying degrees of effectiveness and durability.
I usually opt for at home treatment, for 2 weeks, overnight. It delivers the best and longer lasting results.
Individual trays are made for the patient to wear overnight with whitening gel.
Teeth normally begin to whiten within a few days, the minimum period of two weeks is intended to extend the longevity of the results. It is expected that with this method the results will last for three or four years.
I stopped doing in-office bleaching, which is very popular with patients, because results only last 6 to 12 months.
Internal whitening
This technique allows us to deal with teeth darkened by trauma or previous root canal treatments.
The first Step is the Root Canal with Clinical Microscope, followed by placing the whitening product inside the tooth and leave it for a period of 48/72 hours after which the colour will have, in most cases, been corrected and it is possible to permanently restore the tooth.
Ceramic veneers
This is the Gold Standard in terms of Cosmetic Dentistry to achieve better, longer-lasting results in terms of harmonizing and rejuvenating the smile.
It deals with color changes, enamel wear or stains, spaces in the teeth (diastema), crooked teeth (crowding), etc..
The extent of the procedure varies from case to case, from cases involving only one or two teeth to more extensive interventions associated or not with tooth whitening, internal whitening, etc.
The process of achieving a perfect smile is very personalized. I always have to see the patient, know their expectations and concerns, and the issues to be dealt with as there are many variables involved and different solutions.
I will do my best to give you the best version of your Smile!
I will do my best to give you the best version of your Smile!
