If you’re sick of hiding your smile away because of yellow and brown stains on your teeth, don’t worry — there are ways to get rid of those stains for good.
There’s nothing wrong with striving to be the best you can be or trying to look the best you can. You have pride in your appearance, and that’s natural and healthy. But if yellow and brown teeth stains are holding you back and getting you down, you should know you don’t have to live with them. There are ways of getting around them forever.
To find out what teeth discolouration is, what causes teeth stains and how to get rid of them, read on — and if you’re still looking for reassurance and assistance, you can book a free online dental consultation to see how we at Tooth Doctor can help.
What is Teeth Discolouration?
Tooth discolouration — also known as tooth staining — is the appearance of abnormal and unflattering tooth colour, translucency and hue. External tooth discolouration is simply an accumulation of stains on the tooth’s surface. When you have internal discolouration in your teeth, it is the result of absorption of pigment particles into the tooth structure. There are a number of reasons that your teeth are not appearing pearly white, but there are essentially three main forms of teeth discolouration, which we will discuss below.
What Causes Stains on Teeth?
Stains on teeth are caused by either extrinsic, intrinsic or age-related factors.
Extrinsic stains occur when the enamel of the tooth is stained by dark food or drink, including wine, coffee, coke or your favourite curry. Other lifestyle factors, such as smoking, can cause extrinsic stains. All extrinsic stains are preventable and can be minimised by the incorporation of a good daily dental routine and regular trips to your dentist.
Intrinsic stains occur when the inner structure (the dentin) of your teeth darkens or develops a yellow hue. These stains can result for a number of reasons:
- You were given too much fluoride during early childhood
- Your mother used tetracycline antibiotics in the latter half of her pregnancy
- You yourself used tetracycline antibiotics before the age of eight
- At an early age, you had a fall or other such trauma and the internal bleeding discoloured the tooth
- You were born with dentinogenesis imperfecta — a rare condition that causes green, amber or purple discolouration.
Finally, stains may be age-related. Over time, dentin naturally yellows and enamel gets thinner, so the dentin is more visible.
Removing Stains on Teeth with Home Whitening Remedies
If you’re seeking whiter teeth, you’ve probably come across a wide range of home whitening remedies, including whitening toothpaste, activated charcoal whitening, baking soda, apple cider vinegar and various home whitening strip kits. Some people even swear by fruit, such as pineapple and strawberry. Other people opt for the centuries-old traditional Indian folk remedy of oil pulling. Coconut oil is the favoured oil these days for a number of reasons, not least due to its high lauric acid content, which has been known to reduce inflammation and kill bacteria.
So which home remedy is best for you? Getting answers can be difficult, as it’s been shown you can’t always trust customer reviews. The road to white teeth can be a frustrating and expensive one. Sometimes, at-home remedies can even be dangerous for your health. The strong bleaching gels used in some kits can cause mouth infections, blistering and burns, gum-shrinking and even damage to nerves and tooth enamel.
To Prevent Stains on Teeth, Make It a Daily Priority
So if you have given up on at-home remedies that boast miraculous results, what are you left with?
The first and most effective thing you can do to care for your smile and prevent stains on teeth is to have a diligent daily dental regime. To prevent and eliminate surface stains, brush your teeth after eating or drinking and use an antibacterial mouthwash to reduce stained plaque — stains are easily trapped in plaque and your mouthwash is specially designed to remove it. You can also take steps to avoid food and drink that are known to cause teeth stains. Also, if you’re a regular smoker, now is the time to stop — smoking can cause bad stains on teeth due to the nicotine and tar in the tobacco.
Make a Teeth Whitening Appointment with Your Local Dentist
At-home whitening kits might sound like the cheaper alternative from the outset, but don’t be fooled by false economy. You probably won’t get the results you desire after the first try, or possibly even the tenth. Soon, the costs will stack up and you’ll be left out of pocket, what’s more, your teeth won’t be any brighter.
To avoid the disappointment and frustration, you should head straight to your local dentist. Our Basildon clinic provides whitening from £295. Professional whitening is a great choice for most patients, as long as you have permanent teeth and good oral health. Professional dental whitening works well for anyone with stubborn, yellow or brown stains on their teeth. Get in touch today to finally get that smile you’ve always dreamed of.
Book a dental appointment today for dental whitening in Stanford-le-Hope and Basildon. To learn more about the finance options we offer, get in touch today and our friendly team will be happy to help you.
