Tooth Color Change

Tooth discoloration means that your teeth become stained or darkened. Various reasons can cause your teeth to change color. Some causes are unavoidable, such as aging, trauma or disease. Other causes are preventable, such as smoking and inadequate oral hygiene.

Types of Tooth Discoloration

There are two main types of tooth discoloration:

1. Extrinsic Discoloration: This type affects the outer surface (enamel) of your teeth. Exposure to certain environmental factors like certain foods and drinks can cause external staining of teeth.
2. Intrinsic Discoloration: This type begins inside your tooth and affects the dentin (the layer beneath your enamel). Causes include tooth trauma and certain medications.

What are the most common causes of tooth discoloration?

Several factors can contribute to changes in tooth color, some of which are preventable while others are inevitable. Preventable causes of tooth discoloration include:

• Dark-colored Foods and Beverages: Things like coffee, tea, fruits, red wine, and soy sauce can stain your teeth over time.
• Smoking and Other Tobacco Use: Research shows that smokers are more likely to experience tooth discoloration compared to non-smokers.
• Poor Oral Hygiene: Stains adhere to dental plaque. If you don’t regularly brush and floss, your teeth are more likely to change color.
• Excessive Fluoride: While appropriate levels of fluoride are excellent for preventing tooth decay, consuming high levels during childhood can lead to a condition called fluorosis, which causes white spots on the teeth.

Inevitable causes of tooth discoloration include:

• Genetics: Natural tooth color, brightness, and transparency vary from person to person.
• Tooth Trauma: Falls, car accidents, and sports injuries can cause trauma that leads to changes in tooth color.
• Aging: As you age, your tooth enamel thins, revealing more of the yellowish dentin underneath, making your teeth appear somewhat less vibrant.
• Dental Treatments: Some dental materials used in procedures like metal fillings (silver amalgam) can give your teeth a grayish hue. Root canal treatment can also cause discoloration in some cases.
• Certain Diseases: Conditions like liver disease, celiac disease, calcium deficiencies, eating disorders, and metabolic diseases can cause changes in tooth color.
• Certain Medications: Some medications, such as certain antihistamines and high blood pressure drugs, can cause tooth discoloration. Additionally, adults who took tetracycline or doxycycline (both antibiotics) during childhood may experience tooth discoloration.
• Cancer Treatments: Chemotherapy or radiation therapy to the head and neck can cause discoloration of teeth.

Some Colors and Their Meanings

Sometimes we can determine the cause of tooth stains by their color:

• Yellow Stains: Often caused by consumption of dark-colored foods or drinks, indicating a need to improve oral hygiene.
• Brown Tooth Color: Result of smoking or chewing tobacco. If you have brown stains and cavities (small holes) on your teeth, it likely means you have untreated tooth decay.
• Purple Stains: Often affect those who consume excessive amounts of red wine.
• Gray Tooth Color: May indicate that the nerve inside your tooth has died, possibly due to tooth trauma.
• White Spots on Teeth: Could be a sign of dental fluorosis, meaning you consumed high levels of fluoride during your childhood when your teeth were developing.

Care and Treatment

How do dentists perform tooth whitening treatments?

Dentists use different tooth whitening treatments depending on the underlying cause and whether the stains affect the outer or inner layers of your teeth.

Teeth Whitening

Dentists can offer professional teeth whitening treatments either in-office or at home. These methods use hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide to break down and remove stains from your teeth. Professional whitening provides the best results for surface (extrinsic) stains. However, some whitening products can also address deep (intrinsic) stains.

In-office whitening takes about an hour to complete. Most take-home whitening treatments require daily treatments of 30 to 60 minutes for up to six weeks. Each has its pros and cons. Ask your dentist which option is right for you.

Dental Bonding

If you have deep tooth discolorations that do not respond to whitening, your dentist may recommend dental bonding. This treatment involves applying tooth-colored composite resin to conceal discolored teeth.

Bonding is much more economical compared to other options (like porcelain veneers), but you may need touch-ups every five to seven years if you have multiple discolored teeth.

Porcelain Veneers

If you have widespread tooth discoloration that does not respond to whitening, you may consider porcelain veneers. These ceramic shells are thin but strong and are permanently bonded to the front surfaces of your teeth by your dentist.

A dentist should replace porcelain veneers every 5 to 15 years. There is no going back from veneers.

Dental Crowns

Sometimes, changes in tooth color can be a sign of decay. If you have discoloration in addition to weakened or decayed teeth, your dentist may recommend dental crowns.

A crown is a tooth-shaped cap that sits over your tooth and helps protect it from further damage. Crowns help improve the appearance as well as the health and function of your teeth.

How can I fix discolored teeth at home?

You can find over-the-counter teeth whitening treatments in any oral health section. These products include rinses, pastes, strips, and DIY whitening trays.

While some over-the-counter products are safe and effective, others can damage your tooth enamel and make your teeth more vulnerable to cavities and erosion. Therefore, it's important to consult with your dentist before purchasing.

Components generally to be avoided include:

• Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate).
• Activated charcoal.
• Citric acid.

Make sure that experts have tested the safety and effectiveness of the products you will receive, and they are beneficial for your use.

Can I prevent tooth discoloration?

Even if you can't prevent deep tooth discolorations due to trauma, medications, or health conditions, there are things you can do to reduce the risk of daily surface discoloration:

• Brush your teeth two to three times a day using a soft-bristled brush and an ADA-approved fluoride toothpaste.
• Clean between your teeth once a day with dental floss.
• Limit foods and drinks that stain your teeth, such as tea, coffee, soda, and red wine.
• After consuming beverages that can discolor your teeth, drink plenty of water and rinse your mouth.
• Do not use tobacco products.
• Visit your dentist regularly for routine cleanings and check-ups.

When should I call my dentist?

In most cases, changes in tooth color are purely a cosmetic issue, and you may not need to do anything for oral health. However, if discolored teeth make you feel self-conscious about your appearance, aesthetic dental treatments can help.

However, if you have other symptoms such as pain, bad breath, gum bleeding, or cavities in your teeth, contact your dentist immediately along with the discoloration. Early treatment of these problems can help you avoid more serious oral health conditions in the future.

Tooth color varies greatly from person to person. Having teeth of a different color than someone else does not mean there is a problem. However, if you have a color change that bothers you or makes you feel embarrassed, a dentist can help you find ways to brighten your smile.

The above is for informational purposes only. It cannot replace medical examination or diagnosis. For more detailed information, call Cafe Diş Oral and Dental Health Clinic and make an appointment with our experienced physicians.