Surprising Tooth Stain Causes

When it comes to stained teeth, coffee, tea, and cigarettes are usually the first to blame. However, you might find it as a surprise to hear the many other causes of stained teeth.

Quite frankly, your teeth are always at risk of staining. That is, without the proper care of your teeth. Fortunately, when staining does become a factor, you can receive teeth whitening treatment in the Salt Lake City area with Cyprus Family Dental.

At Cyprus Family Dental in Magna, we know no patient likes the look of stained teeth, and that’s why we offer effective teeth whitening services for our Salt Lake City area patients. Though we can surely bring your teeth back to their natural color, there are plenty of ways to avoid staining. The first step is knowing what to avoid.

Types of Staining and What Causes Them

We’re sure you’re aware of the common causes of teeth staining, but there are a number of ways your teeth can become stained. In fact, there are two types of teeth staining: intrinsic and extrinsic. Each have their own causes. Take a look:

Extrinsic Staining | This occurs on the outer layer of the tooth. More common than intrinsic, extrinsic staining results from the aforementioned coffee, tea, wine, and smoking.

Intrinsic Staining | Here comes the surprise. Intrinsic staining takes place on the inner layer of the tooth, which is called dentin. Over time, dentin can darken and even succumb to a yellow tint. Some causes of intrinsic staining may be:

  • Overexposure to fluoride as a child.
  • Damage to a developing tooth.
  • Internal bleeding from tooth damage.

Additionally, tooth stains can even be the result of aging. Typically, the dentin we mentioned above can yellow as you age, while your enamel gets thinner as well. While you can’t prevent the resulting stains from aging, you can surely avoid staining in the meantime.

Cut the Coffee and Avoid Staining with Proper Oral Care

Aside from teeth whitening, there are a few steps you can follow to keep your teeth shining white. The first step in preventing nearly any dental problem is maintaining a proper dental hygiene routine.

Brushing and flossing twice a day and after meals will help prevent staining, but you should also rinse your mouth out after drinking wine, coffee, tea, and any other staining substance.

Of course, you should also visit Dr. Cantwell for checkups and cleanings twice a year. When stained teeth have already become a problem, teeth whitening is your best option.

Restore Your Natural Color with Teeth Whitening!

In this day and age, it’s quite easy to obtain at-home teeth whitening kits. However, some of these kits can actually be harmful to your teeth. That’s why you should visit Cyprus Family Dental for teeth whitening in the Salt Lake City area. We offer both in-office and at-home whitening treatments that are safe and effective for our patients.

If you’re interested in brightening your smile and ridding your teeth of unsightly stains, contact us today! You can give us a call at 801-250-0203.