Have you noticed that your teeth aren’t as white as they used to be? The change in your teeth’s color is typically caused by stains, which can cause you to feel self-conscious. But, where are the stains coming from?
When you visit Crystal Smiles Dental in Livermore, California, Colin Young, DMD, and our team have the expertise to look at your teeth and understand the root cause of them losing their whiteness.
Two types of dental stains
Learning the difference between extrinsic and intrinsic stains can help you know what’s causing them and how to treat them.
Extrinsic stains
These types of stains happen to the outer surface of your teeth, which is called your enamel. They’re caused by:
- Eating dark foods like berries, chocolate, and tomato sauce
- Drinking dark beverages like coffee, tea, or red wine
- Smoking
- Chewing tobacco
You can typically remove these stains with healthy oral hygiene practices, which include brushing your teeth at least twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a low-abrasive toothpaste, and flossing daily.
You should also keep your routine appointments at our practice for your professional cleaning every six months.
Intrinsic stains
Intrinsic stains affect the inner layer of your teeth, which usually exist on your tooth’s dentin. Your dentin is the hard layer of material that lies underneath your enamel.
You can get intrinsic stains from:
- Your dentin naturally causing discoloration as you age
- Trauma to the root of your tooth
- Overexposure to fluoride
- Certain medications
These stains exist on a deeper layer of your tooth, which isn’t likely to respond to teeth whitening treatments. In these extreme cases, you should consider cosmetic dental treatments.
Other causes of dental stains
As you age, you can experience a combination of extrinsic and intrinsic tooth discoloration. That’s because your enamel begins to thin over time, which exposes more of the dentin layer of your teeth.
Unfortunately, this layer starts to yellow as you get older, which begins to show through.
Solutions for dental stains
If you have extrinsic stains, in addition to brushing, flossing, and having them professionally cleaned at Crystal Smiles Dental, we offer professional teeth whitening that can get rid of your surface stains and brighten your smile.
If you have intrinsic stains or a combination of both types, your cosmetic dental options include:
Veneers
These are thin, porcelain shells that bond to the surface of your teeth that conceal your stains and improve your imperfections.
Lumineers
Similar to veneers, these cover your teeth, hiding stains or discoloration, but they require less preparation than veneers.
Dental bonding
This solution doesn’t last forever, but the tooth-colored dental compound offers a quick solution for your minor intrinsic stains.
Dental crowns
If your stains come from tooth trauma, a crown can restore the tooth, strengthen it, and give your smile a natural, attractive appearance.
To learn more about the best way to treat your discolored teeth, contact our team for an evaluation. Call, text, or book your appointment online today.