Teeth get stained due to a variety of reasons, such as antibiotics, aging and too much caffeine. But fixing the problem is not that difficult, says Dr. Kirk Petersen, DMD, who runs Hemet West Dental Office in Hemet, California, although the right whitening system all depends on the type of staining..
People get discolored or stained teeth for a multitude of reasons. Often a variety of factors conspire together to stain teeth and make them look unattractive, resulting in either extrinsic, intrinsic or age-related discoloration. Some of the most common culprits for having discolored teeth are:
- Aging
- Too much coffee, cola or tea
- Drinking too much red wine
- Excessive fluoride
- Tetracycline
Different Options
There are several options to fix stained teeth. The first and least expensive option would be whitening. But while that is going to whiten the teeth, it will not whiten any fillings that are also stained.
Another option depends on the type of staining. Often the staining isn’t actually the teeth, but old tooth-colored fillings. In that case, we could just replace the fillings. In fact, we just did that recently on a person who had whitened their teeth but not their fillings, which were all brown-looking. The tooth-colored filling materials we use these days stain as much as the older versions.
Permanent Whitening
You can also fix teeth that are stained permanently by using either porcelain veneers or Lumineers, which are as thin as a contact lens. They are applied directly to the front of the teeth and allow you to change the color, shape, size and appearance of the teeth. It really is the only permanent whitening option available.
If the staining is from the antibiotic tetracycline, it actually can be treated with whitening. But it’s often a long and drawn-out process, which can last up to six months, as the inner layer of the teeth has actually darkened. Children can also suffer from intrinsic discoloration of their teeth if their mother took tetracycline tablets when she was pregnant.
If you are interested in treating discolored teeth, speak to your dentist. Some dental offices offer to take a picture of your teeth and modify the color and even the shape to allow you to see before and after pictures and make an informed decision about whether or not you want to have work done.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
