What one person considers teeth stains could be another person’s normal shade of teeth, as there is no one shade of white that everyone’s teeth should match. Each person has a unique tooth shade, just as eye color and hair color shades are very individual and unique to each person. So just because your teeth are not as white as a celebrity’s or your neighbors, it doesn’t mean they’re stained. They could just naturally be a darker shade.
What Causes Teeth Stains
Surface teeth stains are fairly common, however. Regular cleaning at your dentist’s office can remove minor discolorations and restore your teeth to their natural shade. Other teeth stains take more work to remove. Certain drinks like soda, coffee, red wine and tea are known to stain teeth over time. Smoking and the use of chewing tobacco can cause teeth stains. The other common substances that cause stains are certain types of medication. One of the most well-known problem medications is tetracycline, which will cause teeth to turn bluish gray if taken when teeth are forming, as with pregnant women or small children.
Some medications that treat the skin and other organs may also cause teeth staining. And even fluoride, which is beneficial to your teeth, can stain them when ingested in large amounts during the years when teeth are forming. A child swallowing fluoridated toothpaste, for instance, under the age of 5 could have teeth stains because of the excess fluoride. Age plays a role, too, as people’s teeth get darker as they grow older.
Cavities and tooth decay can cause teeth stains. While the decay itself is dark, the surrounding area of the tooth that is not decayed can become discolored. Teeth that have been injured may also change color, such as a tooth that took a hard blow and has turned dark. Dental work can also cause teeth stains. Some metal fillings turn the surrounding tooth enamel gray.
How to Remove Teeth Stains
The teeth stains caused by certain beverages and tobacco can be removed through teeth whitening. This process usually involves a peroxide gel that is put onto the teeth either in a strip, with a brush, or via mouth trays. The peroxide essentially bleaches the teeth. For any surface staining, teeth whitening is a good option for removing it. Your dentist can perform the bleaching procedure and give you a kit to use at home, if you have stubborn stains that didn’t come off completely during the dental bleaching. For really tough stains, whitening gel activated by a laser can restore the even whiteness of the teeth.
But teeth stains caused by dental work, medications, fluoride and any internal cause in which the tooth discolors from the inside out won’t benefit from teeth whitening. In these cases either crowns or porcelain veneers may be used to cover the discolored teeth. Because bleaching can only remove surface teeth stains, crowns or veneers are really the only sure way to disguise the deep teeth stains and restore your smile to an even, natural color.