What Causes Teeth Discolouration?
Sparkling white teeth are not only attractive but a symbol of good health. Your teeth are a very prominent feature and rightly or wrongly, people are judged on their teeth, if someone has bad teeth it can be a reflection on the person themselves. It can have a devastating impact on your confidence and some people may be reluctant to smile or even open their mouths around strangers.
A tooth’s baseline intrinsic colour is determined at birth. There is no “normal” shade of white. No individual’s tooth will be exactly the same shade, just as a person’s hair colour will never be exactly the same, there will always be some variation and the same can be said for the shade of your teeth. There are various factors that will contribute to teeth discolouration.
Between professional dental cleanings you should expect that you will pick up surface staining, although sometimes after you have had your teeth cleaned you may notice a considerable difference in the shade of your teeth which can sometimes denote that the discolouration may be caused by inadequate cleaning not from staining alone.
Foods and drinks in particular, will have a marked effect on the colour of a persons teeth especially beverages such as Tea, Coffee, Red Wine and acidic drinks. Tobacco is extremely bad for discolouring your teeth. Smoking cigarettes, cigars or pipes can all cause extremely stubborn tooth staining.
Some medications, in particular certain antibiotics over a prolonged period of time can cause tooth discolouration. The antibiotic Tetracycline as well as its derivatives Minocycline and Doxycycline can produce blue-grey tooth staining if taken during tooth formation. Because of this, pregnant women and children 8 years old and under are not given Tetracycline products. It is well known that Minocycline can cause tooth discolouration even in adults.
It is totally normal for teeth to discolour with age. This is a normal event and can not really be helped. Tooth decay, which not only contributes to bad breath, bad teeth in general but also staining. Although the decay itself is not always visible, it can cause staining under the surface of the tooth enamel which can sometimes be seen.
Plaque and tartar build up can also result and even Periodontitis (inflammation of the bones that hold the teeth in place) that can lead to tooth loss so for that reason alone, tooth decay should be treated before carrying out any whitening treatment. Additionally, tooth trauma usually caused by accident can also cause discolouration although this is usually an indication that the nerve inside the tooth has died.
Thankfully you don’t have to resort to expensive professional whitening treatments, there are a number of home whitening kits that you can use on a daily basis to promote white teeth for a brighter smile
