A Closer Look at the Types of Tooth Discoloration

If you look at your smile in the mirror, do you notice stains that weren’t there before? It’s a common flaw many people experience, but it can happen due to a wide range of reasons. This discoloration can be on the surface of your teeth, but it is possible that it goes deeper. Regardless, your dentist is here to help! Here’s more about dental stains and what treatments you can get to fix them.

Stains on the Surface

There are two types of this dental imperfection, with surface ones being more common. They are called extrinsic stains, but they often happen because of foods, drinks, and unhealthy habits like smoking. Red wine, coffee, tomato sauce, berries, and tobacco products are some culprits you may have in your routine.

When you feel your enamel with your tongue, you may think it is completely solid, but this layer has tiny pores. Dark particles find their way into these tiny areas and lead to the yellow discoloration you may see. A great way you can avoid this is by rinsing with water or drinking with a straw.

Discoloration Deeper Within

Intrinsic stains are the other type that are found inside your teeth. They are beneath your enamel, but they can be caused by your genetics, certain medications, and decay, to name a few. Since they are deeper, treating them with whitening may not be as effective, but there are other options you can consider that’ll get you to the results you want.

How Can I Get Rid of Dental Stains?

No matter the type of stains you have, your dentist is here to help you correct them. There is a wide range of treatments that can give you the aesthetic smile you love, such as:

• Professional whitening is effective at getting rid of discoloration on and within your enamel. It uses high-quality bleaching gel to break down dark particles effectively. You can get about an hour-long in-office visit or a two-week take-home kit; both will give you results that are up to eight shades brighter.
• Cosmetic dental bonding is great if you have only a tooth or two has a stubborn stain. Your dentist will use composite resin that’s shaded to blend in and cover the tint that bothers you. It can be done in just one visit, about an hour per tooth.
• Veneers are another option you have. These are thin, durable shells that bond to the front-facing parts of your smile and hide a wide range of flaws underneath them.

In the end, any of the treatments above can get you to the brighter smile you want. To see which is right for the stains you have, you can talk to your dentist to get to a solution you love.

About the Practice

At Gerome & Patrice Family Dentistry, you benefit from the compassionate leadership of Dr. Mark Gerome and Dr. Gina Patrice. We are happy to help the Loveland community get the aesthetic grin you want with a wide range of cosmetic dental services. By finding out what flaws you have, we can customize a plan to get you to your goals. If you want to perfect your teeth, schedule an appointment or call our office at (513) 677-1349.