Causes of discolored teeth

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally consulted by Doctor of Dental - Jaw - Facial - Department of Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital
Discolored teeth not only affect oral health but also greatly affect aesthetics. Knowing the causes of discolored teeth will help you treat, avoid risks, and treat them promptly.

1. Causes of tooth discoloration

The bright white color of the teeth that we see is due to the light-reflecting properties of the enamel layer. However, over time, this enamel layer will gradually be worn away by both endogenous and exogenous causes, causing the tooth surface to gradually become yellow, patchy and gray. Specifically, here are the main factors that we often encounter that cause teeth to become discolored:

1.1. Diet

When we load food or drink into the body, teeth are the first part to come into contact with them. Coffee, tea, cigarettes,... are all things that leave food coloring on our teeth. If we consume a lot of foods with dark colors for a long time and our teeth are not properly cleaned, then surely our teeth will become discolored quickly over time.
Especially tobacco, this is not only an agent that affects the color of tooth enamel but also extremely harmful to health. Nicotine in cigarettes is the main cause of breaking down the protective film of enamel, making this enamel weaker and the ability to stick to color increases accordingly.

1.2. Oral hygiene habits

Improper brushing or lazy brushing are also direct causes of tooth discoloration. The plaque will follow to create an opportunity to stick on the teeth, making the tooth surface gradually lose its brightness and turn yellow.
Not only that, if you do not have good and proper oral hygiene habits, you will increase the likelihood of dental diseases. The most obvious is that the condition of the tooth with decay or damaged tooth pulp, if not treated in time, will cause the teeth to turn black, accompanied by pain and unpleasant bad breath.

1.3. Children with black teeth

Parents sometimes often neglect to take care of their children's teeth, even though this is an age that needs attention. Therefore, tooth decay or tooth decay is very common in young children, causing the phenomenon of black teeth.
Besides, if during pregnancy the mother regularly takes tetracycline antibiotics or antibiotics in the same group as tetracycline, the baby will be at high risk of being infected with tetracycline antibiotics. With severe antibiotic infections, children's teeth will suffer significantly.

1.4. Side effects due to overuse of antibiotics

Antibiotics such as Tetracycline (Tetra), Doxycycline, Albuterol, Histamine can all cause teeth to become discolored. As a result, the teeth are infected with antibiotics, simply understood as the teeth are stained from within the tooth tissue, which is different from the staining caused by food or the outside of the enamel.
The degree of tooth staining can be divided into 3 levels as follows:
Light yellow teeth Mottled yellow teeth Dark black teeth

1.5. Discolored teeth after giving birth

The increase in estrogen and progesterone in a woman's body during pregnancy promotes the appearance of bacterial plaque in the teeth. Acids are secreted a lot through morning sickness, bloating, and vomiting, which erode minerals on the teeth.
Not only that, pregnant women will often divide into many meals a day to supplement the body's necessary energy. Accordingly, if the oral hygiene is not done well and properly, it will create an opportunity for food particles to stay on the teeth, which will cause teeth to become dull for a long time.

1.6. Due to age or heredity

Due to genetic factors, many people have dentin enamel since childhood. The reason is that the enamel layer on the natural teeth is thin, the minerals are not enough, leading to the yellow dentin layer that stands out above the surface of the enamel layer.
Besides, age is also a factor that causes teeth to become discolored. As people get older, the aging of the teeth will also gradually occur over time. The enamel on the teeth will become thinner, the color of the teeth will be more opaque, and the problems of the teeth will appear more and more.

2. Measures to overcome discolored teeth

2.1. How to reduce tooth discoloration naturally at home

In case your teeth are discolored due to foods or drinks that are dark in color, you can take advantage of baking soda to help whiten your teeth. Besides, other natural ingredients that you can easily find such as: lemon + salt mixture, burnt bread crust, ripe banana peel, coconut oil, strawberries, ... can also assist in making bright teeth.
However, the efficiency of the above methods is not high and it takes a lot of time to implement. Especially in cases where teeth are severely stained or teeth are infected with antibiotics, it will definitely not work.

2.2. Treating discolored teeth at the dentist

We will easily overcome the situation of stained teeth when we go to the dentist. Here are some treatment methods for yellowing teeth that you can refer to:
Teeth whitening Porcelain veneers Porcelain veneers You can consult your dentist to be able to choose a method. suitable for dental condition as well as economic conditions.

3. Some ways to help prevent teeth from becoming stained

The way to prevent and help prevent tooth discoloration is that you should clean your teeth properly and properly every day, as well as have a healthy diet:
Brush your teeth twice a day, brush your teeth correctly the to be able to remove the plaque. Flossing or flossing is necessary to remove food trapped between teeth. Periodic examination from 3-6 months / 1 time to the dentist to remove tartar. Minimize the consumption of certain foods and drinks that easily stain teeth. Be sure to clean your teeth thoroughly afterwards. Quit smoking: not only prevent teeth from gradually becoming yellow, but also protect your health and those around you. Above is information about the causes as well as ways to fix discolored teeth. Based on the information we have just shared, hope you will know how to better protect your teeth. If you intend to go to a dentist to fix your discolored teeth, you should choose reputable places to ensure technical quality.
Vinmec International General Hospital is the address for examination, treatment and prevention of diseases, including the specialty of Dentistry - Jaw - Face. When performing the examination process at Vinmec, customers will be welcomed and used modern facilities and equipment along with perfect medical services under the guidance and advice of experts. Good doctors, well-trained both at home and abroad.

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