Plaque itself may also be the culprit of yellow-brown or dark brown tooth stains; poor oral hygiene can allow plaque to build up, making your teeth look dull and lackluster. If you smoke or chew tobacco, you can count on your teeth turning yellow-brown and eventually dark brown after years of use.
Baby teeth that have been injured or infected may lead to brownish tooth stains in permanent teeth. Aging can cause brown tooth stains, too. Fact is your teeth are like anything else that endures years of use - they become a little less shiny, a little less bright over time. Don't fret: It's the norm rather than the exception. Later, we'll go over how to get rid of them.
Green Stained Teeth - It sounds strange, but tooth stains can actually be light to dark green in color. Green stains are more commonly found on children's teeth. The causes vary from exposure to copper, nickel and mercury to the presence of fluorescent bacteria and fungi. Certain blood diseases can also cause greenish tooth stains, as can decomposed hemoglobin or a stained enamel cuticle (the Nasmyth's membrane). These stains typically affect anterior teeth (the six upper and lower front teeth).
Orange Stained Teeth - Orange tooth stains typically occur near the gum line and are caused by the presence of chromogenic (photographic) bacteria or food buildup. Children are especially prone to orange tooth stains, usually as a result of improper or infrequent brushing.
Bluish-Gray Stained Teeth - Bluish-gray stains are intrinsic and caused by exposure to medications like tetracycline. This can happen in utero, when the tooth structure is forming; expecting mothers who take tetracycline can transfer it to the fetus.
Black Stained Teeth - Black tooth stains are extrinsic tooth stains and sometimes appear in the form of a black line on the anterior teeth. Iron supplements or mouthwashes containing chlorohexedine can cause black tooth stains.
White Spots - Fluorosis, the condition resulting from fluoride overuse, can cause opaque white lines or splotches on teeth. This type of tooth stain is intrinsic.
Solutions for Stained Teeth
Avoiding stained teeth requires brushing, flossing and seeing your dentist regularly. Professional teeth cleanings can help remove minor extrinsic tooth stains. For more stubborn stains or intrinsic stains, professional teeth whitening, micro-abrasion or veneers may be perfect solutions. A consultation with your dentist is the place to start, since extrinsic and intrinsic tooth stains are treated differently, but we can prepare you by discussing the different types of solutions available.
Teeth Whitening -- Most extrinsic tooth stains respond well to professional teeth whitening treatments. Laser teeth whitening is the preferred choice of many patients these days because of its bleaching power and time-saving advantages (treatments take about an hour!). But not everyone can get this laser dentistry procedure; a thorough dental exam and consultation is required to get your dentist's go-ahead. Things like tooth decay or gum disease may need a tooth filling or gum disease treatment prior to laser teeth whitening. Patients with a dental crown or porcelain veneers are limited, too. Only certain types of laser teeth whitening treatments are effective on existing dental work.
Over-the-counter teeth whitening systems and dentist-dispensed take-home kits are other options. While over-the-counter systems are generally cost effective, they require daily use for several weeks before results are evident. With professional take-home kits, the bleaching solution is stronger than store-bought kits or whitening strips. Plus, you have the added benefit of using the system under your dentist's supervision.
Intrinsic tooth stains caused by tetracycline use or fluorosis are tougher to remove. Some dentists have found that intensive treatments utilizing a variety of teeth whitening products has worked for patients with tetracycline stains. This involves using a teeth whitening toothpaste for two weeks, followed by a laser teeth whitening treatment and then using take-home whitening trays for the next three weeks.
Micro-Abrasion -- Micro-abrasion may be effective for tooth stains caused by fluorosis. Micro-abrasion involves polishing away tooth stains with a mixture of hydrochloric acid and pumice. This process removes a very thin layer of enamel to reveal whiter, more evenly colored teeth.
Porcelain Dental Veneers -- Another option is to cover your stained teeth altogether with porcelain dental veneers. Porcelain veneers are an exciting cosmetic dentistry invention that can dramatically transform stained teeth, crooked teeth or chipped teeth into bright white, perfectly straight teeth in one visit. You can get just a few porcelain veneers to mask problem areas or a mouthful for a complete smile makeover. Porcelain veneers typically take just one visit to apply and require little to no prepping. Although porcelain veneers are highly stain-resistant, it's best to minimize consumption of foods and drinks that can stain teeth.
Stained teeth may be difficult to avoid, but a cosmetic dentist can help bring back the bright white smile of your youth.