Teeth can become stained for many reasons including your drink, food choices and oral hygiene. Teeth stains can occur below the tooth enamel and on the surface of the teeth, some people develop both types of stains.
Types of Tooth Discolouration
Tooth Discolouration can occur due to surface stains, changes to your tooth or a combination of both. Dentists have identified 3 categories of tooth discolouration.
1. Intrinsic Stains: This type of staining is below the tooth's surface. It occurs when stain causing bacteria go through the external surface and accumulate in the enamel. An intrinsic tooth stain can be trickier to remove but it can be done. It may require a professional teeth whitening service.
2. Extrinsic Tooth Stains: This type of stain is on the surface of your teeth. It is one that is most commonly formed. It occurs when stained particles such as from food or drink build up and cover the tooth enamel. This is commonly formed from coffee & tea drinkers, wine and regular tobacco use. An extrinsic tooth stain may respond well too regular brushing, whitening toothpaste and regular dental cleanings.
3. Age-Related Stains: This tooth discolouration is a combination of both intrinsic and extrinsic stains. The core tissue of your teeth, dentin naturally turn yellow as you age causing teeth to discolour. The enamel that covers our teeth becomes thinner as we age allowing the yellow dentin to show. This in combination with intrinsic discolouration will cause your teeth to stain as you become older.
Stained Teeth Causes
Teeth stains can be caused by various factors as discussed above which can be from food, drink or biological factors causing your enamel to become thin resulting in your dentin showing.
This list below can show you the cause of discolouration in your teeth and help prevent further discolouring of your teeth:
Trauma/ or Disease: Trauma, illness or any disease that affects enamel development in the womb or young children can cause discoloured teeth. Certain treatments in adults can cause your teeth to discolour.
Oral Care: Poor dental hygiene such as inadequate flossing or brushing can cause tooth discolouration.
Food/ Drink: Coffee, tea, dark sodas, red wine and even a few fruits and vegetables cause discolouration.
Tobacco: Chewing tobacco and cigarettes discolour teeth.
Teeth Whitening For Older Adults
While we want everything to get better with age, tooth discolouration are the bodies least favourite changes. It is one of the three main causes of tooth stains, which is a result of many factors including extrinsic and intrinsic tooth stains.
How To Remove Tooth Stains
Fortunately, there are many options available to help you remove your stains. Maintaining regular oral hygiene by brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing and regular dental visits. In addition a teeth whitening treatment can help remove stubborn stains on your teeth.
Regardless of the type of tooth discolouration you have a professional teeth whitening treatment will help you makeover your discoloured teeth into a beautiful white smile.
If you have more questions about our Teeth Whitening services in our Vaughan or Toronto location, we would love to help!
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