Teeth Discoloration: Causes and Prevention

The concept of "Hollywood smile" means perfectly even and snow-white teeth, which their owner demonstrates at the first opportunity. Those who have been awarded the perfect smile by mother nature are certainly lucky, but in order to keep this gift, you need to remember about regular and careful dental care. One of the main components of perfectly white teeth is the refusal to eat certain foods that can affect the discoloration of the teeth. What is worth giving up so that the smile always remains snow-white?

The main cause of tooth discoloration is improper care and food with dyes. These violations are conditionally divided into two types:

external (enamel discoloration occurs on the surface) and internal (in the thickness of the tooth). External changes can eventually turn into internal ones. The most common cause of staining is foods and drinks with a high concentration of dyes. Tea and coffee – the cause of pronounced and persistent brown or black spots on the enamel of the teeth. Tobacco causes yellow-brown staining, mainly on the inside. Also, internal discoloration can be caused by taking medications, such as tetracycline. If teeth stained with tetracycline are exposed to sunlight, they will take on a dark gray or brown tint. Fillings can also often be the cause. Over time, the filling material breaks down and becomes gray in color, and metal inlays and fillings can be seen through the enamel.

Change in color, structure, color is inevitable with human aging, teeth undergo natural abrasion, cracking, destruction of old fillings. These changes are influenced by genetic factors, lifestyle, various bad habits. Objective assessment of the color of each section of the tooth – important diagnostic procedure. For example, enamel is characterized by a special transparency – “living brilliance of enamel”. With pathological disorders, this luster is lost and the tooth becomes dull and dark. Teeth devoid of pulp become gray. Also, a grayish tint can be caused by heavy metal poisoning (mercury, lead). Pink color – staining of plaque with food coloring. Teeth of a greenish tint appear when their surface is affected by specific fungi. A pronounced green tint may appear when the tooth comes into contact with copper amalgam fillings. Dark brown (almost black) color can be caused by occupational contact with metals (iron, nickel, manganese). Crown discoloration may occur immediately after an injury.

Professional teeth cleaning is an integral part of proper dental care: