Having a great smile is a confidence booster. That usually means clean, white teeth, rather than stained or green teeth! If you're struggling with teeth stains, read on for information on the types of teeth stains and possible causes.
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What Causes Green Tooth And Other Tooth Discolouration?
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Types of teeth stains
The Australian Dental Association (ADA) explains that there are two main types of tooth discolouration, depending on the cause.
Extrinsic stains
Extrinsic stains appear on the surface of your teeth and are caused by what goes into your mouth. Common culprits include:
- Red wine, black and green tea, or dark-coloured foods.
- Occasionally some mouth rinses, can leave a dark residue on teeth which can be reomved by your dental professional.
- Cigarettes or chewing tobacco.
Your oral hygiene habits will have a big impact on the severity of extrinsic staining. It’s important to brush twice a day and clean between your teeth daily, after meals if possible. Keep up with regular professional dental hygiene appointments and, if you want even whiter teeth, talk to your dental professional about teeth whitening treatments.
Intrinsic stains
The second type of discolouration is intrinsic staining. This type of discolouration is from the inside of your tooth, with causes including: Some darkly pigmented foods and drinks
- Smoking
- Trauma to the tooth causing the tooth to become non-vital or dead.
- Ageing
The ADA explains that this type of staining can be harder to treat as it requires a bleaching procedure. Your dental professional will be able to talk you through possible options for dealing with this type of staining.
Green tooth
Green tooth is a less common type of stain. In babies, it can be intrinsic staining as a result of jaundice. In adults, it may be extrinsic staining caused by a build-up of micro-organisms, such as certain bacteria and fungi. This is usually a result of poor oral care, so you may be able to deal with these stains by improving your daily oral hygiene routine and having regular professional teeth cleanings.
If you want a whiter, brighter, stain-free smile, speak to your dental professional. They will be happy to help you get to the root cause of your tooth discolouration and offer advice on lifestyle changes, oral care habits, whitening products and other possible solutions. Knowing the cause of your tooth discolouration is half the battle, so book an appointment now to start freshening up your smile!
This article is intended to promote understanding of and knowledge about general oral health topics. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your dentist or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.
