Yellow teeth and stained teeth are common cosmetic dental problems many people face. If tooth discoloration is among your dental concerns, we offer effective treatment options to restore the brightness of your smile. Dr. Alan Dechter and Dr. Matthew Moy are cosmetic dentists that offer several solutions for tooth discoloration in Silver Spring, MD.
Types of Teeth Stains
Two basic types of teeth stains exist. Extrinsic stains and intrinsic stains can both contribute to discolored teeth. Knowing the type of stains you have will help our dentist find the best treatment option for you.
Extrinsic Teeth Stains
An extrinsic stain is a stain on the outermost layer of the tooth. Lifestyle choices are the main cause of extrinsic stains which are typically easy to treat. Common causes of extrinsically stained teeth include tobacco, coffee, tea, soda, berries, and other foods with strong colors in them. When used or consumed in excess, these things can cause stained or discolored enamel and yellow teeth.
Intrinsic Teeth Stains
Intrinsic stains are stains in the inside layer of the tooth, known as dentin. A few things cause this type of stain including too much fluoride, trauma to the tooth, tooth decay, disease, and certain medications. Intrinsic stains are much harder to treat since they are deep within the tooth. While extrinsic stains appear evenly over a majority of the teeth, intrinsic stains may only affect a small portion of a tooth or just a single tooth.
How to Fix Stained Teeth
Dr. Dechter and Dr. Moy provide their patients with several types of treatments to fix stained teeth in Silver Spring, MD. This includes both in-office and at-home professional teeth whitening treatments. Additionally, they offer dental crowns, porcelain veneers, and dental bonding to fix discolored teeth than we cannot fix with a whitening treatment.
Most extrinsic tooth stains can be fixed with professional teeth whitening. However, intrinsic stains are much harder to address. In these cases, Dr. Dechter or Dr. Moy will recommend a more permanent treatment such as dental veneers, crowns, or bonding. These treatments will not eliminate the stain but will instead cover them up.
Tooth Discoloration FAQs
Stained or yellow teeth can impact the appearance of your smile. If you are interested in fixing the color of your teeth, you may have many questions about how to accomplish this. The type of stain you have can actually impact the treatment you will need. Read our most frequently asked questions about tooth discoloration. If we do not address your concerns here, please contact our office for help.
How do teeth become stained?
Common causes of teeth discoloration include tobacco use, coffee, tea, red wine, berries, certain medications, certain diseases, overuse of fluoride, tooth decay, and injury to a tooth.
Why are my teeth yellow?
Heavy smoking or certain foods and drinks are often the cause of yellow teeth. Most people who are heavy smokers will have yellow teeth. Additionally, many types of foods can cause this including berries, heavy tomato-based sauces, dark spices, and much more. Furthermore, drinks high in tannins can cause it. These include coffee, red wine, and black tea.
Does coffee stain your teeth?
Coffee is one of the leading causes of stained teeth. It contains a high level of tannins which is an ingredient that causes color compounds to stick to your teeth. Consuming a lot of coffee will often lead to yellow teeth.
What are my options if professional teeth whitening does not fix my discolored teeth?
If professional teeth whitening does not whiten your teeth, we offer several alternative cosmetic dentistry options we offer to whiten teeth. One option is porcelain veneers, which are thin shells that we will custom-design to fit over the front of your tooth. The porcelain will provide a white, uniform appearance.
Another alternative is a dental crown, which will cover your tooth that is discolored or badly shaped. Crowns provide a natural-looking appearance and also strengthen the tooth.
Lastly, we also offer tooth bonding as an effective solution for improving the appearance of stained teeth. This cost-effective procedure involves applying a tooth-colored resin material to the tooth surface. Your dentist will shape the resin material, cure it, and polish it to match the surrounding teeth.
Will braces cause tooth discoloration?
Braces do not cause tooth discoloration, but poor oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment can lead to stains. Plaque and food particles can accumulate around the brackets and wires, which increases the risk of stains. To prevent discoloration, remember to brush and floss every day.
Also, avoid food and beverages that will cause stains, such as coffee, tea, and certain fruits. Continue regular dental appointments to monitor and maintain oral health throughout the duration of wearing braces.
What is the common cause of tooth discoloration?
The most prevalent cause of tooth discoloration is consuming staining substances such as coffee, tea, wines, and tobacco. These substances contain chromogens, which attach to the enamel of the teeth, leading to a yellow or brown color.
Also, bad oral hygiene habits can contribute to the buildup of plaque and tartar, which stains the teeth. Age also plays a significant role, as enamel wears down over time, revealing the naturally yellow dentin underneath.
How do I remove nicotine stains from my teeth?
In most patients, professional teeth whitening will remove the nicotine stains from their teeth. However you can do several things to remove tobacco stains at home. First, be sure to brush and floss regularly. Good oral hygiene is essential to prevent and reduce teeth stains.
You can create a paste by mixing baking soda with water until it forms a thick consistency. Use this paste to brush your teeth gently for a few minutes. Baking soda acts as a mild abrasive and can help remove surface stains.
You can also remove tobacco stains from dental prosthetics like dentures and veneers. Start by rinsing your dentures under warm water to remove any loose debris. Then, create a denture cleaning solution with equal parts water and vinegar. Vinegar has stain-removing properties that can help remove tobacco stains.
Use a soft-bristle toothbrush or denture brush to gently scrub the dentures with the cleaning solution. Brush all surfaces of the dentures and focus on the areas with visible tobacco stains. Lastly, rinse the dentures under running water to remove the cleaning solution. Quitting smoking is the most effective way to prevent future nicotine stains and improve your overall oral health.
Get a Brighter Smile
At a cosmetic consultation, Dr. Dechter or Dr. Moy will analyze your teeth and ask you about your lifestyle habits. This will help them determine the type of tooth discoloration you have and the best way to treat it. Schedule your appointment today by calling (301) 508-9755 or by requesting an appointment online.