While the
difference might only be obvious to a dentist or a dental hygienist,
tooth-related stains can broadly be grouped into three categories.
Extrinsic Teeth
Stains
These are the
stains where the cause and effect is most obvious as they are on the outer
surface of the teeth – the enamel. Extrinsic stains are mostly caused by
the pigmentation in what we consume and so staining on the tooth enamel
gradually worsens over time.
Common culprits
include tobacco, wine, carbonated soft drinks and energy drinks, and
(annoyingly as you’re reading this whilst sipping a Latte) tea and coffee.
Extrinsic staining
is difficult to avoid as so much in our diet is a potential cause; luckily
these are also the stains that are simplest to remedy.
Intrinsic Teeth
Stains
Intrinsic staining
of teeth affects the inner layer of the teeth – the dentine. The dentine
may darken or become yellow and the discoloration can be particularly
noticeable if the outer layer (enamel) has been worn away too.
Staining on the
inside of the tooth is usually affected by health related aspects such as:
·
Too much fluoride consumption when
very young
·
Certain medications such as
tetracycline antibiotics (particularly under the age of 8)
·
Trauma to the tooth causing nerve
damage
·
Tooth decay (usually present where
the tooth meets the gumline)
·
Genetics
Unsurprisingly
these are harder to remedy, but far from impossible. An extrinsic stain simply
needs removing from the surface, the intrinsic has worked into the tooth and so
a different approach is required.
Age-related Discolouration
Over
time, if there are cracks or fractures in your enamel, staining on the outside
of the tooth can penetrate deeper and affect the inner layer.
Even
without damage to the enamel of teeth, as we age the dentine naturally yellows
and the enamel layer thins, this allows the darkened dentine to show through.
Something a little different:
Old Dentistry
As
enamel wears away, metal fillings may give teeth a noticeably “grey” appearance
and old veneers and composite bonding can darken with time (and can appear even
darker if you whiten your natural teeth).
How can I change the colour of my teeth?
Trying
to assess what type of discolouration you have requires a dental professional
assessment. A clear assessment of the cause of discoloration will allow
targeted treatment and the best result will be achieved.
Guessing
can lead to the wrong treatment. It might be tempting to buy whitening
toothpaste but this will have no impact on intrinsic staining. It will also
have very little impact on surface staining as the dosage of active whitening
ingredients legally allowed to be purchased over the counter are too low to
have any impact.
Worse
still, others turn to home whitening kits and gels that are not prescribed by a
dental professional. At best, these will have no impact, at worst they will be
wholly unsuitable to the type of staining you have.
The
kits are often ill-fitting and the gel at a dosage that is either too weak or
(illegally) too strong. Rather than whitening teeth, a far more likely result
is to cause burns to the gums and create problems that require medical
attention.
First things first
Seeing
a dentist will help you identify the cause of your stained or discoloured teeth
and they will provide you with the best treatment options for whitening your
teeth.
For
extrinsic staining caused by food, drink and smoking it is always advised to
have an appointment with one of our hygienists who can get your smile back to
it is former shining glory.
Following
a thorough clean by a dental hygienist, extrinsic staining can be further
treated with professional teeth whitening (provided all the teeth being
whitened are natural teeth and there are no other reasons for your discoloured
teeth).
Intrinsic
staining will require a different approach, where the bleaching agent is either
placed inside the tooth or other cosmetic options are considered (such as
porcelain or composite veneers).
it’s essential to visit a dentist for an oral examination to
discuss your suitability for treatment.
Proper
oral care at home underscores any professional treatment that you may get, as
this not only helps you to maintain your beautiful smile once it has been
restored, but also helps to look after your oral and overall health.
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