by Malavi Sivakanesan • 18 March 2025 • 5 min read
Several dental issues are there. One such condition is tooth discoloration. This is the condition where your teeth become dark or have stains. Talking about the causes for this problem, numerous are there. Some of them include disease, aging, trauma, poor oral health, and smoking. Keep in mind that some of these reasons are unavoidable, such as aging, while others can be reversed, like oral hygiene, smoking, etc. Besides, some dental solutions can reverse the condition. To learn more about the same, keep on reading this post.
What are the Types of Tooth Discoloration?
Before talking about the treatment for dark stains on front teeth, it is good to learn about the types. Based on the same, your dentist will decide whether you need teeth whitening treatment or any other solution. Here are the types of discolouration:
- Intrinsic: As the name suggests, this discolouration generally starts inside the teeth and affects the underneath layer of enamel i.e. dentin. This is caused by curtained medications and dental trauma.
- Extrinsic: This discolouration is usually seen on the other surface of the teeth i.e., the enamel. It occurs due to exposure to various foods, beverages, etc.
What are the Best Tooth Discoloration Treatments?
A dentist uses different treatments for tooth discolouration. However, they always consider the underlying causes and the type of discolouration beforehand. Some highly preferred treatments include the following:
Teeth Whitening
A dentist offers at-home or in-office teeth whitening treatments to help you with discolouration. They typically use carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide to remove the stains. This treatment option is specifically effective for extrinsic tooth stains. However, some intrinsic issues can also be managed with this treatment. When it comes to the treatment duration, it can be up to 6 weeks. Before considering this option, ask your dentist about the pros and cons.
Dental Bonding
When discolouration issue is deep, teeth whitening will not work effectively. In this condition, dental bonding will be recommended by the dentist. In this process, the dentist will apply composite resin, matching the colour of your teeth to conceal the discolouration. This is one of the most effective and affordable options to fix teeth discoloration. However, you will need to go for bonding touch-ups every 5-6 years.
Dental Veneers
When you have multiple tooth discolouration, it cannot be improved with teeth whitening. For such cases, dentists suggest veneers to fix the issue. These veneers are nothing but ceramic cells that are strong but thin. They are fixed with permanent glue on the affected teeth. Veneers are also ga reat option to mitigate the cosmetic flaws such as misshapen or chipped teeth. Again, you will need to replace them every 5-15 years.
Dental Crowns
In some cases, tooth discolouration happens because of cavities. When you have decayed or weakened teeth along with discolouration, you will be advised to go for dental crowns. This is more like a cap matching the shape of your teeth. It will be placed on the discoloured tooth to make your smile beautiful.
How to Prevent Teeth Discolouration?
As you know, some issues cannot be stopped i.e. aging. However, other aspects are still under your control without teeth whitening treatment and others. If you really want to prevent this condition, you should do the following:
- Brush 2-3 times a day.
- Always use dentist-approved toothpaste with a soft brush.
- Use floss after every meal or at least once.
- Limit or avoid drinks and foods that can stain your teeth, such as cola, red wine, coffee, and tea.
- Rinse your mouth after drinking sugary and soda drinks.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Say goodbye to smoking.
- Go to your dentist regularly for dental check-ups and deep cleanings.
On the Final Note
Tooth discolouration can happen to anyone. However, you should be attentive and seek instant medical assistance to prevent further damage. Whether you need dental veneers in London or more information regarding why teeth change color, you can talk to the expert team at Complete Smiles.
Malavi Sivakanesan
Malavi Sivakanesan is the principal dentist and co-founder at Complete Smiles in Harrow, Greater London. She is responsible for establishing the Complete Smiles brand throughout the United Kingdom and Europe and has 5 successful practices under her strong leadership.