Where stains come from
Why do teeth become discoloured?
Tooth colour changes for two broad reasons. Extrinsic stains sit in the outer enamel and build up from daily habits. Intrinsic discolouration starts inside the tooth. Common causes include:
- Coffee, tea, red wine and other strongly coloured food and drink, which leave pigment in the enamel over time
- Smoking and other tobacco use, which leaves stubborn yellow and brown marks
- Plaque and tartar, which hold stains against the tooth when brushing and flossing are missed
- Ageing, as enamel slowly thins and the yellower dentine beneath shows through
- Trauma to a tooth, which can make it darken on its own
- Some medications, such as tetracycline antibiotics taken while teeth were forming
- Genetics, since some people simply have naturally darker or more stain-prone teeth
Surface stains usually respond well to whitening. Discolouration from injury or medication can be harder to shift, and we will tell you if another approach, such as porcelain veneers, would suit you better.
