What Causes Tooth Discolouration?

Tooth discolouration is a common problem but can be due to many different factors.

Teeth stains can be extrinsic, meaning they only affect the tooth enamel on the tooth’s surface. Your choice of food and drink most often causes these stains, and if you smoke, it can increase the rate of staining considerably.

Intrinsic stains are internal stains located inside the tooth. These stains can make the tooth appear grey and will not respond to over-the-counter whitening products. Intrinsic stains are most often caused because of some form of trauma or injury to a tooth. For example, if the tooth is exposed to certain medications such as tetracycline during childhood or is decayed. Excessive exposure to fluoride during childhood can create white lacy flecks or brown stains in teeth.

As you age, your teeth begin to darken naturally. This is because your tooth enamel becomes thinner as it wears away, exposing more of the tooth’s colour in the dentine underneath.

If you are interested in brightening your smile, talk to us about possible treatments. Our dentist can assess the reason for your tooth discolouration and can recommend suitable treatments to help you. We can also discuss how to maintain a brighter, whiter smile in the future.

Feb, 12, 2021

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