Key Takeaways:

• Consumption of certain foods, beverages, and tobacco can cause unsightly stains on the teeth. 
• Trauma, certain diseases, metabolic disorders, and specific medications can also cause teeth discoloration. 
• Dr. Van Dyke, of Island Tower Dentistry in Marco Island, Florida, explains how to remove stains from teeth and prevent them from coming back.
• Professional in-office teeth whitening is the most effective way to remove stains and brighten your smile. 
• When all else fails, dental veneers can mask unsightly stains and discoloration, allowing you to smile with confidence.  

What Causes Teeth Stains? 

Dentists categorize teeth stains as extrinsic (surface), intrinsic (inside the tooth), and mixed. Some foods and beverages, like betel nuts, contain intense color pigments called chromogens that adhere to teeth enamel, while the tar and nicotine in tobacco products do likewise. Certain medications also contain substances that can cause extrinsic staining when used for prolonged periods. Poor oral hygiene gives the staining agents time to bind to the enamel and allows bacteria and food particles to form a protein film that further traps the stains, making them resistant to removal.

Intrinsic stains alter the color of dentin beneath the enamel and are caused by developmental or systemic factors. Excess tetracycline or fluoride can change dentin color in children as their teeth develop, while trauma, certain diseases, metabolic disorders, and specific medications can also discolor dentin. Lastly, aging can cause intrinsic yellowing of teeth as dentin thickens and enamel thins. 

Mixed staining describes teeth discoloration caused by a combination of extrinsic and intrinsic factors, such as extrinsic staining from coffee and tobacco, combined with the effects of aging. Mixed staining can also be caused by extrinsic staining that leaches into the dentin through thinning enamel, which is associated with long-term daily consumption of tobacco, coffee, and red wine.

How Do I Get Rid of Stains on Teeth? 

The most effective way to remove tooth stains is through the teeth whitening options provided by your dentist. Your dentist can best determine the causes of the staining and customize treatment to address specific stains and discoloration, using stain removal and whitening formulations that are significantly more powerful than whitening toothpastes and over-the-counter (OTC) whitening kits. An in-office whitening treatment can effectively remove most staining and lighten teeth by six to 10 shades, with results lasting up to three years. Many dentists, like Island Tower Dentistry, also offer patients convenient custom take-home whitening trays that ensure full tooth coverage and more effective stain removal and whitening than OTC kits.

How Do I Remove Stains That Resist Whitening Treatment?

For deep-seated intrinsic or mixed stains that resist in-office or take-home whitening treatments, Island Tower Dentistry offers dental veneers to patients on Marco Island. These super-thin porcelain veneers are bonded to the existing tooth enamel with a powerful dental cement to mask stains that are resistant to other treatments. With a look and feel reminiscent of enamel, Dr. Van Dyke tints the veneers to ensure they match the surrounding teeth, providing you with a natural-looking smile.        

How Do I Prevent Teeth Stains from Coming Back?

The best way to prevent extrinsic stains from recurring is to avoid the substances that cause them. Thus, if you like to chew betel nuts or enjoy squid ink, maybe it’s time to find an alternative. Likewise, quit smoking or chewing tobacco. If you want coffee, tea, red wine, and similar teeth-staining beverages, you’re probably hesitant to give them up. However, the most effective option is to consume such drinks through a straw. The next best option is to rinse your mouth with water soon after drinking any of them, which also works when you eat foods that can stain your teeth. Also, when eating teeth-staining foods, combine them with dairy items, such as milk and cheese, which bind to the pigments in these foods, preventing them from adhering to tooth enamel.  

Brushing your teeth soon after consuming teeth-staining products is also effective at preventing stains. However, you should always wait 30 minutes before brushing after consuming acidic foods or drinks, as they temporarily soften the enamel, which can then be abraded by brushing. After 30 minutes, the enamel becomes fully re-mineralized, making it safe to brush then.

Speaking of brushing, be diligent about your oral health care by brushing and flossing at least twice a day. Stains have a harder time sticking to clean teeth, while bacteria-covered teeth make it easier for stains to adhere to the enamel.

Additional FAQs: How to Get Rid of Stains on Teeth

Q: Which foods and beverages stain the most?

A: After squid ink and betel nuts, the worst culprits for teeth staining are coffee, tea, red wine, turmeric, blueberries, blackberries, soy sauce, and tomato-based sauces.

Q: Are over-the-counter (OTC) whitening strips effective?

A:  OTC whitening strips can help reduce the appearance of mild to moderate extrinsic stains, but are not effective at removing severe staining or intrinsic and mixed stains. Custom take-home whitening trays offered by your dentist contain formulations that are much more powerful than OTC strips. They are also much more effective at treating some intrinsic staining and reaching discoloration between teeth, in crevices, and along the gumline.

Q: Are there any effective and safe natural teeth stain treatments? 

A: Not really, as popularly touted treatments like activated charcoal and apple cider vinegar damage the enamel.

Q: Should I be concerned about odd-looking teeth staining?

A: Sudden graying of a tooth could be a sign of internal bleeding, while yellow streaks in a tooth combined with pain might indicate a cracked tooth or infection. In either case, you should book an appointment with your dentist.  

Ready for a brighter, healthier smile?

Schedule a consultation with Island Tower Dentistry and let Dr. Van Dyke help you choose the best whitening or cosmetic solution for your needs. Call (239) 399-5421 or request your appointment online today.