Dental
staining may be permanent or temporary. Before your dentist can
recommend a treatment option to brighten your smile, you need to
determine the cause of your tooth stains. Here are the different
types of dental stains and their appropriate treatments.
Extrinsic
Discoloration
Most
dental stains are extrinsic, affecting only the tooth enamel. The
pigments in foods and beverages typically cause these stains. Coffee,
wine, tea, strawberries, chocolate, and beets can stain your teeth,
as can cigarette smoking.
Brushing
and flossing after eating stain-causing foods help prevent extrinsic
tooth discoloration, as does limiting your consumption of highly
pigmented foods. When consuming stain-producing beverages, drink them
through a straw to minimize contact with your teeth.
Also,
drinking your coffee with a splash of milk in it may also help
prevent extrinsic staining. Highly acidic foods and drinks may make
your teeth more vulnerable to stains. To help neutralize oral
acidity, chew sugarless gum to help enhance salivary flow and eat
more fiber-rich foods to help keep the teeth clean by the mechanical
process of chewing.
Over-the-counter
bleaching products and professional whitening treatments are
effective in removing surface stains. Whitening toothpastes
containing hydrogen peroxide and brushing your teeth with a baking
soda and water mixture also help brighten the teeth. Baking soda is
abrasive and hydrogen peroxide can damage your tooth enamel, so avoid
using these remedies regularly.
Intrinsic
Discoloration
Intrinsic
dental stains refer to tooth discoloration inside the tooth, rather
than those on the surface. This type of discoloration occurs
during fetal development or during childhood. Intrinsic staining can
also develop because of antibiotic use and traumatic injuries to
teeth during childhood.
Intrinsic
dental stains often look dark or gray. Another cause of intrinsic
staining is enamel erosion. Enamel erosion makes your teeth look
yellow or stained. However, the discolored appearance is not due to
stains, but because of dentin exposure, which is naturally yellow in
color.
Enamel
erosion can be caused by tooth grinding. Your dentist may recommend
that you wear a dental appliance when you go to sleep to help prevent
grinding. Also, putting crowns on the affected teeth or filling them
may conceal the discoloration.
Other
types of intrinsic dental staining include calcium deficiencies and
fluorosis, a condition that can cause white spots on the teeth, from
fluoride overexposure. If your municipality adds fluoride to your
water supply, talk to your dentist about the need for fluoridated
dental products for yourself and your child.
If
your water supply contains large concentrations of fluoride, you may
not need to use fluoridated products such as fluoridated mouthwashes.
Since most toothpastes contain fluoride to help fight cavities, you
may have a hard time finding a high-quality fluoride-free toothpaste
at your local grocery store or pharmacy. If you cannot find a
suitable toothpaste, your dentist can recommend one.
Treatments
for intrinsic dental staining include veneers. Veneers cover the
affected teeth, concealing the underlying stains. Veneers are from
porcelain or composite, and if your dentist recommends porcelain
veneers, you may need multiple procedures. However, if your dentist
uses composite materials, you may only require one procedure.
You
dentist will need to make sure that your teeth are in good condition
or sound enough to withstand a veneer restoration procedure. While
veneer restorations are durable, you still need to take care of them
by brushing regularly and seeing your dentist for examinations and
professional cleanings.
As
you would with your natural teeth, avoid biting down on hard objects,
especially with your front teeth to help preserve your veneers.
To
learn more about extrinsic and intrinsic dental staining and their
treatment options, or to make an appointment for a checkup or
cleaning, contact
us today.
