Latest Dental News: Enamel Stripping
Some amount of dulling and darkening of your teeth is just a natural part of aging. What we eat and drink and how we care for our teeth will affect how much staining and discoloration occurs on the outside of our teeth. Other factors, some beyond our control, can cause teeth to stain on the inside. Most staining can be corrected with tooth whitening. Stubborn, resistant discoloration can be covered with other procedures, giving you beautiful, white teeth again.
Aging:
As we age, the enamel of our teeth thins. When the enamel thins the dentin shows through. Dentin is yellow and as it becomes more visible your teeth lose their bright whiteness. Brushing and good oral hygiene cannot stop the dulling of your teeth caused by aging. Tooth whitening can reach and lighten the dentin.
Darkening on the outside of your teeth:
Staining on the outside of your teeth is called extrinsic staining. This is the type of darkening that you have the most control over. Your personal habits play a large role in extrinsic staining, but are not the only factor.
Proper brushing and flossing will minimize this type of staining. However, that doesn’t mean you should go crazy with aggressive brushing and using abrasive products. If you damage your tooth enamel your teeth will stain more easily.
Obviously, what you put in your mouth can stain your teeth. Staining foods and beverages include dark berries, coffee, tea, sodas, and red wine. Smoking and smokeless tobacco use will also stain your teeth.
Dental damage such as chipped teeth and tooth erosion leave areas unprotected by tooth enamel and they can darken quickly. Tooth erosion can be caused by many things including drinking sodas. It is common in swimmers due to excessive exposure to chlorine.
Metal (silver amalgam) fillings can become tarnished and stain your teeth. They can be replaced with beautiful, tooth-colored fillings.
Darkening on the inside of your teeth:
When your teeth become dark on the inside it is called intrinsic staining. This typically starts in childhood and is beyond your control. The most common cause of intrinsic staining is tetracycline use while your teeth were developing. Tetracycline is a very common antibiotic.
Intrinsic staining:
Staining inside of your teeth is called intrinsic staining. Intrinsic staining is very resistant to whitening. Your cosmetic dentist can determine if your teeth will respond to tooth whitening, and if not, he can recommend alternatives. Even if you have dark intrinsic staining, you can still have a beautiful, white smile.
If you were exposed to excessive fluoride while your teeth were forming you may have white fleck and/or brown stains in your teeth due to dental fluorosis. Public water supplies often have added fluoride. You can help protect your children from dental fluorosis and the health risks of excessive fluoride by giving them bottled water or installing a high quality water filter in your home and having use fluoride-free toothpaste until they are at least three years old.
An injury to a tooth can cause it to darken. This can happen very slowly after the trauma occurs.
Some intrinsic stains respond to whitening, but in most cases you will need to cover the stained teeth with porcelain veneers or tooth bonding. Even the toughest stains can be covered giving you beautiful, white teeth again.
Source: Why Do Teeth Darken?
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