If your teeth are looking a little dull or discolored, you’re not alone! Tooth discoloration can happen to the best of us. The good news is, there are plenty of ways to make your pearly whites, well, pearly white again.
Whether you’re dealing with surface stains from your morning cup of coffee (or two) or more stubborn, deep-set discoloration, we’re sharing how to get rid of stains on your teeth to bring back your best, brightest smile.
What Causes Tooth Discoloration?
Before our Kelowna dentists get to the solutions, let’s talk about the causes and types of tooth discoloration.
- Foods and Drinks: Coffee, tea, red wine, tomato sauce, certain fruits and other highly pigmented foods and beverages can stain teeth.
- Smoking: Tobacco use is a significant cause of yellow and brown stains on teeth.
- Medications: Certain antibiotics and medications can lead to teeth discoloration, as can excessive fluoride intake in early childhood.
- Poor Oral Hygiene: Without regular brushing and flossing, food particles, beverages and plaque remain on the teeth, leading to stains.
- Aging: As we age, the enamel on our teeth wears down, exposing the dentin beneath, which is a yellowish color.
- Trauma or Disease: Illness or even a blow to the face that damages a tooth can create tooth discoloration.
- Genetics: The color of your teeth can be inherited. Sometimes, enamel formation is interrupted in the womb causing problems like enamel hypoplasia and subsequent discoloration.
According to a peer-reviewed article in the journal Dental Update, tooth discoloration tends to fall into one of three categories:
- Extrinsic Stains: These stains form when particles from highly pigmented food, drinks and other elements build up on the surface of the teeth or within the protein layer that covers the enamel.
- Intrinsic Stains: Intrinsic stains are deeper and occur within the dentin, which is the layer below your tooth enamel. They often have systemic causes, such as from certain medications or even aging, or originate from within the tooth like in the case of trauma.
- Internalized Stains: Lastly, internalized stains result when extrinsic stains enter the dentin through chips, cracks or defects on the tooth’s surface.
How to Fix Discolored Teeth
Ultimately, how to fix stained teeth boils down to the cause and type of staining. Your best bet is to schedule a dental exam.
When patients visit our practice for cosmetic dentistry in Kelowna, an experienced dentist assesses their teeth and gums before providing personalized treatment recommendations. Depending on your unique needs, options could include:
1. Professional Dental Cleaning
For many, professional dental cleaning is the first step in getting rid of stains on teeth. Regular cleanings help to remove extrinsic, or surface, stains caused by food, drinks and hardened plaque (tartar). At Discover Dental, we recommend having a routine cleaning every six months. This will go a long way in keeping your smile bright.
2. Teeth Whitening
Professional teeth whitening is one of the most popular cosmetic dental treatments for stained teeth. While whitening toothpaste and over-the-counter teeth whitening kits can remove some mild surface stains, they can also create sensitivity and may be too abrasive.
Professional whitening is safe, effective and tailored to you. Because dentist-grade whitening solutions are stronger than OTC options, professional treatment removes tough extrinsic stains and some internalized stains. You’ll get better results without sensitivity or enamel damage.
3. Cosmetic Bonding
Cosmetic bonding is another excellent solution for discolored teeth. It’s particularly effective for masking small extrinsic, intrinsic and internalized stains, as well as chips and other minor surface defects.
During the procedure, your Kelowna dentist applies a tooth-colored resin to the enamel and hardens it with a curing light. They shape and polish the material to look like natural enamel. Though cosmetic dental bonding doesn’t last as long as veneers or crowns, it’s fast, affordable and non-invasive.
4. Porcelain Veneers
For intrinsic and internalized stains that refuse to budge, porcelain veneers provide a lasting solution. Veneers are thin, custom-made shells that are bonded to the front of your teeth. The dentist removes a small amount of enamel before placing the restorations, so they are considered permanent.
Not only can veneers hide imperfections like brown or black stains on teeth, but they can also address small gaps or misalignment, worn enamel and other concerns for a complete smile makeover. Your teeth will look white, straight and uniform.
5. Dental Crowns
If your tooth discoloration is due to damage or decay or you don’t have enough tooth structure to support a veneer or bonding, dental crowns are another option. We offer custom porcelain crowns and CEREC® ceramic crowns at our Kelowna office.
A dental crown covers the entire visible portion of your tooth to the gumline, restoring its color and shape and protecting it against breakage and further decay. The dentist shapes your tooth to fit under the restoration, so like veneers, the treatment is considered permanent, because the tooth will always need to be covered by a crown going forward.
That said, dental crowns can last for decades with proper care. Thanks to our modern technology, we can often create and place a CEREC crown in a single visit, offering a quick and durable solution for tooth discoloration.
Preventing Stained Teeth in the Future
Maintaining a bright smile after treatment requires good oral hygiene and could involve some lifestyle adjustments. The best ways to prevent tooth stains are to:
- Brush and floss daily;
- Limit consumption of staining foods and drinks;
- Quit smoking;
- Wear a mouthguard when playing sports of doing a physical activity that could result in a blow to the mouth;
- Visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings.
The Bottom Line
Teeth stains can be caused by a number of things, such as food and drinks, poor oral hygiene, smoking and medications.
As for how to get rid of stains on your teeth, the right solution will depend on the cause and type of tooth discoloration you’re experiencing. In general, options include a professional dental cleaning, teeth whitening, cosmetic bonding, porcelain veneers and dental crowns.
Interested in Cosmetic Dentistry in Kelowna, BC?
At Discover Dental Centre, we offer general, restorative, surgical and cosmetic dentistry in Kelowna. If you’re ready to explore the options to fix discolored teeth, schedule an appointment today! Our team is ready to help you get a bright, white smile.