Tooth staining is a common dental complaint because it makes people conscious of their smiles in social settings. The good news is that your dentist will whiten your teeth with effective in-office solutions to boost your confidence. But do you know why your teeth are discolored? Explore five causes of tooth discoloration below to help you avoid further staining.

1. Food and Drinks 

Your favorite foods and drinks are likely the cause of those persistent teeth stains. Coffee is among the major teeth-staining culprits as it is packed with tannins, which help adhere stains to your teeth. 

Tea and red wine also contain tannins, and regular exposure to them discolors your teeth. White wine is no better since it has acids that erode the enamel and expose your teeth to discoloration. Other teeth-staining beverages include soda, juice, and sports drinks.

When it comes to food, curries with deep coloring lead in teeth-staining abilities. The deep pigmentation soaks into your teeth's porous surfaces while spices with strong colors like turmeric adhere to the teeth. 

If you love tomato-based sauces with your pizza or spaghetti, you might notice that your teeth get a little less white over time. Dark-pigmented sauces such as soy sauce and balsamic vinegar, and food coloring are also notorious for staining teeth. Lastly, eating too many beets, grapes, berries, and citrus fruits may leave you with discolored teeth.

You don't have to avoid teeth-staining foods altogether to preserve the color of your teeth. Instead, reduce the frequency of consuming these foods and drinks and rinse your mouth as soon as you eat or drink them.

2. Tobacco Use

Tobacco use, either through smoking, vaping, or chewing, is a top cause of teeth stains. The nicotine and tar in tobacco seep into the teeth's tiny pores, leaving yellow and brown stains over time. Also, tobacco use affects your oral health and makes you vulnerable to gum disease, oral cancer, and other issues.

Teeth stains caused by tobacco are hard to remove, which is why your teeth don't seem to change even if you use whitening toothpaste and other home remedies. In-office teeth whitening treatments are the most potent solutions to nicotine stains, but you may need several appointments for the best results. 

3. Poor Dental Hygiene

Daily brushing and flossing remove plaque and food stains and protect the natural color of teeth. If you slack on your dental hygiene, plaque builds up on teeth and hardens into a yellow coating called tartar. 

The bacteria in plaque also change the characteristics of your teeth due to decay and demineralization. In addition to regular brushing and flossing, keep up with dental cleaning appointments to prevent oral colonization by plaque. 

4. Disease and Medications

Any disease that affects the enamel or treatments like radiation and chemotherapy cause brown stains on teeth. Before you undergo cancer therapy, consult your dentist to formulate a plan for oral care to prevent tooth staining. Your dental provider can recommend fluoride supplements and other interventions to prevent tooth decay.

During your dental appointments, talk to your dentist about any medication you are taking since some antihypertensive medications, antipsychotic drugs, and antihistamines cause tooth discoloration. Additionally, some antibiotics, like doxycycline and tetracycline, can interrupt enamel formation in children under eight.

5. Aging

Over time, the dentin or the core tissue of your teeth naturally yellows. On the other hand, the enamel erodes with age, exposing the yellowing dentin and making your teeth look a bit darker. The staining effects of long-time tobacco use also become more apparent as you age.

Luckily, age-related stains are easy to fix in the dentist's office. Your dentist can also use dental veneers to improve the appearance of your smile. 

Many patients at New England Dental Health Services want a brighter smile, and we use in-office whitening treatments and take-home whitening kits to help boost our patient’s confidence in their teeth’ appearance. Contact us today to counter the effects of tooth-staining foods, drinks, and habits.