Discoloration on the teeth is caused either by external or systemic factors - then they are a symptom of the disease. See what are the most common causes of tooth discoloration and which of them you can affect.
Some people have teeth that are more yellow from birth than others. Others, in turn, turn yellow with age. There are also many factors that can change the color of your teeth.
Causes of tooth discoloration
The reasons may be different. Dentists divide them into two groups:
1. Discoloration of the surface(on the surface of the teeth) and darkening of the teeth may be caused by:
- smoking or chewing tobacco,
- drinking coffee, tea or red wine,
- Eating foods that contain high amounts of dyes, such as cherries and blueberries.
2. Internal discoloration(in the deeper structure of the tooth) is caused by:
- taking antibiotics (tetracyclines) during tooth formation,
- aging tooth trauma, which can cause nerve death, resulting in a brown, gray or black color,
- ingesting too much fluoride during tooth formation (i.e. from birth to age 16), giving the teeth a "mottled" appearance.
How can you remove discoloration?
Most external discoloration, caused by food and tobacco, can be removed by thoroughly cleaning the teeth by a dentist or hygienist. The use of whitening toothpaste will also help to get rid of them.
If the discoloration has been present for several years, perhaps the teeth should undergo a professional whitening treatment.
A way to get rid of internal discoloration can be teeth whitening, the use of composite or making a tooth cap (crown).
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