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The Common Causes of Tooth Discoloration

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It’s natural, as we age, to begin to experience some minor tooth discoloration. Whether it’s coffee every morning or the occasional glass of red wine over the years, these highly-pigmented beverages plus others can eventually take a toll on the shade of your smile. However, these aren’t the only things that could be affecting the brightness of your teeth. Continue reading to learn about the common causes of teeth staining plus what you can do to get your bright smile back. 

What Causes Tooth Discoloration? 

Everyone wants a healthy smile. While most tooth discoloration doesn’t signal a health issue, it can still cause us to think negatively about our smiles. Some causes of tooth discoloration we can’t control, such as aging or accidents that damage our teeth. However, many times the staining we find on our teeth is due to lifestyle choices. Cleveland Clinic lists the common causes of tooth stains to be: 

Lifestyle Habits

  • What we eat and drink. Coffee, tea, soda, wine, and starchy food like pasta can result in staining on the teeth. 
  • Tobacco use. If you’re a smoker or use chewing tobacco, you’re likely to experience stained teeth. 

Dental Health

  • Poor dental hygiene. If you don’t brush your teeth and floss as much as you’re supposed to, food stains can build up and discolor your teeth. Further, if you skip professional dental cleanings these stains can get worse. 
  • Disease. Some diseases don’t allow for normal development of tooth enamel (which is the white exterior of your teeth) and dentin (the more porous, yellow core under the enamel. Additionally, certain medical treatments like chemotherapy and radiation can also cause teeth to change colors. If you’re pregnant and develop certain infections, it can affect enamel in your baby and discolor their teeth, too. 
  • Medications. Taking certain medicines can lead to a change in color of the teeth. Antibiotics such as tetracycline and doxycycline can affect enamel formation in children. Further, mouth rinses that contain chlorhexidine and cetylpyridinium chloride can discolor teeth. Antihistamines and certain allergy medications can also result in this, too. 
  • Aging and genetics. The older you get, the outer layer of enamel on your teeth slowly wears down and exposes more of the yellow dentin. Your dentin also grows as you age, which results in making the tooth look darker. On the other hand, some thicker and whiter enamel runs in some families. 
  • Environment. If a child is exposed to too much fluoride at a young age, it can cause fluorosis, which looks like white spots on the teeth. Fluoride can be found in tap water or dental health products like toothpaste. 
  • Trauma. During sports, you risk getting hit in the mouth. If your child is younger than 8, getting hit in the mouth can disrupt enamel formation. Trauma can also discolor adult teeth when a sports injury or other impact leads to a decrease in blood flow to a tooth or nerve dying. 

Treating Tooth Discoloration 

At Stonebrook Family Dental, we offer patients two different options when it comes to treating tooth discoloration: at-home systems or in-office whitening. Each option has its own set of benefits, but Dr. Kevin Varley will discuss with you what option he believes is best based on your current dental health and level of staining. 

In-Office Whitening 

Did you know that professional in-office whitening is the most popular cosmetic dental procedure in the world? This treats tooth staining that comes with aging and the consumption of certain foods and beverages. Your in-office treatment will include monitored conditions where Dr. Varley will ensure that the amount of bleaching gel you are given is safe, controlled, and doesn’t cause you pain. This whitening option produces immediate, noticeable results. Thicker peroxide gels and the use of desensitizers work to prevent gum and tooth sensitivity during your appointment. We offer: 

  • LED whitening. This technique is used every 6 months at your regular dental checkups and is considered a maintenance procedure that will whiten your teeth up to 3 shades in 20 minutes. An LED-accelerated light is used to help achieve that whiter smile in a short amount of time. 
  • Boost system by Ultradent. To drastically change your smile in one hour, we offer a Boost System by Ultradent. Boost is a chemically-activated power whitening gel that provides brighter, whiter teeth in one appointment. The powerful 40% hydrogen peroxide gel is chemically activated and doesn’t require light to work. Using the unique double-syringe configuration, our whitening team activates the 40% hydrogen peroxide formula just prior to application and will make sure that every dose is fresh and effective. 

Boost Your Smile with Stonebrook Family Dental 

No matter the cause of your tooth discoloration, Stonebrook Family Dental can help you achieve a brighter, whiter smile. To learn more about your options, call our office today to set up a consultation at (303)-872-7907. 

 

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