The Things Behind a Discolored and Stained Smile

Unfortunately, stained smiles are common. This is because there are many things that tend to discolor your chompers. However, there is no need to worry. If your smile is dull, dark, or yellow, Dr. Richard D. Guthrie and our dental team offer teeth-whitening treatments at our office that can help you return to the beautiful smile you deserve. Until then, it’s important to determine the underlying cause of the discoloration. So, to help you, we will be happy to explain the many causes.

The first thing that causes tooth discoloration are dark liquids. Some beverages have strong color pigments that tend to attach to the tooth enamel, which causes discoloration. The most common teeth-staining beverages are red wine, tea, and coffee.

The second thing that causes stained tooth enamel are tobacco products. The tar and nicotine in the tobacco stain and discolor your teeth.

The third thing that causes a dull smile is time. Underneath your tooth enamel is a soft substance called dentin. Dentin is naturally yellow. As time passes, the outer shell of your teeth wears away, eventually showing the dentin. This gives you a yellow smile.

The fourth thing that causes a discolored smile is oral trauma. Naturally, when you experience an emergency like this, your teeth will change color. This is because they will react to the injury by protecting themselves with more dentin, which, like mentioned before, is the yellow substance found underneath the tooth’s enamel. As the teeth produce more dentin, your smile will turn more yellow.

To learn more about what can cause a stained smile, or to schedule a teeth-whitening treatment in Ladera Ranch, California, please call Mission Ranch Dental Aesthetics at your earliest convenience. Once you call 949-388-6325, our dental team will be more than happy to assist you. We look forward to helping you restore the appearance of your smile!