The Reasons For Teeth Discolouration

No one wants dark discoloured teeth, but there are certain pleasures in life that encourage us to over indulge in dark foods and bad habits that unfortunately leaves us with horrible discoloured teeth, such as tobacco smoking, drinking tea, coffee, wines or even eating certain fruits and vegetables can stain our teeth. Foods, drinks and tobacco smoking are the most common causes of tooth discolouration, but there are many other causes:

Poor Oral Hygiene
The removal of plaque and food build up is crucial to our teeth for many reasons, but when it comes to discolouration inadequate brushing will not reduce the risk of staining therefore adapting a good brushing and flossing technique will go a long way in preventing stain build up.

MEDICATON - Bacterial infections needs to be treated with antibiotics and the use of Doxycycline and Tetracyline can be used. They are among the safe category of antibiotics that are given to pregnant women, however one of the known side-effects is the unborn child can end up with staining/discoloured teeth. Also when young children are given the antibiotic it can stain their teeth, not just a surface stain but the staining goes deep into the teeth. And to think that it could'nt get any worse there are some infections that pregnant women contract that causes tooth discloouration and this cannot be prevented.

Age
Over the years our teeth will start to wear and tear from grinding and chewing this will reveal the natural colour of the underlying dentine which is a more yellowish colour, also as our teeth wear, the enamel starts to form tiny defects which will allow small amounts of food debris to accumulate causing stain build up.

CALCIUM METABOLISM DISORDER - the name given to unsual amounts of calcium levels found in the body. Low levels found in the blood can be caused by condition like Hypocalceamia. On the other hand a high intake of calcium either through the use of supplements, and/or vitamin D or drinking milk exessively can lead to Milk Alkali Syndrome.

MEDICAL TREATMENTS - There are certain treatments which are known to weaken the enamel and make it brittle such as head and neck radiation and chemotherapy, this will make it possible for dark foods and drinks to penetrate the tooth surface and cause stains.


Genetics
Unfortunately for some of us hereditary places an important part in the colour of our teeth and no matter how much you avoided that cup of coffee or glass of wine, well you might go as far not eating any dark foods or drink it will make no differences to your tooth colour, however laser teeth whitening could improvement your tooth colour by a few shades.

Fluoride
Even though fluoride plays an important part in maintaining the structure of our teeth excessive amounts of fluoride in our daily intake (present in our local water supply or fluoride supplement) gives our teeth an unsightly mottled appearance.

AMALGAM FILLINGS - Sometimes its necessary for us to need a filling and because not all of us can afford the white ones we must accept amalgam fillings which is a dark grey powdered alloy and mercury mixture, and can sometime rub off on to nearby teeth leaving stains known as amalgam tattoo.

Learn more about tooth discolouration and how to treat it with laser teeth whitening technology