What Causes Tooth Discoloration?

To many people, a morning coffee or afternoon glass of wine is a ritual that cannot be disturbed or broken, but as there are many joys that come with those drinks there are still many enamel-straining prices. There are 3 different types of staining that can happen to your teeth and different causes. Learn more below about what causes teeth to discolor. If you are unhappy with the color of your smile, Maynard Family Dentists in Maynard, MA can help!

Types of Stains:

Tooth discoloration can be caused by surface stains, material changes in your teeth, or a mix of the two. Tooth discoloration can be divided into three types, according to dentists:

  • Extrinsic Teeth Stains: These stains are a type of discoloration that affects the outer layer of your teeth. Extrinsic stains are not as permanent as the other types, these stains will not respond to simply brushing your teeth. If there are cracks on the teeth they can become deep-set and begin to be harder to remove.
  • Intrinsic Teeth Stains: This type of stain will be found on the inner layer of your teeth or the dentin. Though dentin is beneath the tooth enamel, the darkened dentin can cause the whole tooth to appear discolored.
  • Age-Related Teeth Stains: Age-related teeth stains are a combination of both extrinsic and intrinsic discoloration. The core tissue of your teeth, the dentin, will naturally yellow over time causing your teeth to become discolored. Another factor that may cause your teeth to show discoloration is that the enamel of your teeth will become thinner allowing the dentin to show through.

Causes of Enamel Stains

There can be many causes when it comes to teeth stains. Certain drinks and foods can cause there to be stains on your teeth, but there can be a biological factor as well. Many times there can be ways to prevent these stains from appearing on your teeth and many that you can not control. This list can help you determine what the cause was behind the stains on your teeth.

  1. Food & Drink: Coffee, dark sodas, red wine, and some fruits and vegetables can be so acidic that they cause staining.
  2. Tobacco: Cigarettes and chewing tobacco can contribute to discoloration.
  3. Oral Care: Tooth discoloration can be caused by poor dental hygiene, such as insufficient brushing or flossing.
  4. Trauma or Disease: Discolored teeth can result from any trauma, illness, or disease that impairs enamel formation in children, whether in the womb or while teeth are developing (under the age of 8). Adult teeth can sometimes become stained as a result of trauma. Discolored teeth can be caused by a number of disorders and therapies, chemotherapy and radiation, for example, cause tooth discoloration.
  5. Medical Treatments: There are times when some medical treatments can contribute to your teeth staining as well as some medications.

Ways to Help Clear Stains

There are a few remedies that can help lessen the impact of these causes. With help of some products, the coloration of your stains can become less apparent, but will not fully remove those stains.

  1. Keeping a consistent healthy oral routine – brushing twice a day and daily flossing
  2. Twice-yearly visit to your dentist
  3. Limitation of teeth-staining beverages
  4. At-home remedies – brushing with baking soda products
  5. Professional teeth whitening

If you are interested in getting your teeth back to pearly white, contact Maynard Family Dentists in Maynard, MA today for a professional teeth whitening session!

Affordable Dentures in Maynard, MA

For those who are missing all or most of their teeth, dentures are an excellent solution. One of the most cost-effective ways to replace a full set of upper or lower teeth, dentures can be a permanent solution for patients looking to restore their smile and confidence. We offer affordable denture solutions to meet the needs of every patient.

When it comes to replacing your teeth, there are several options. The one you choose will depend on the extent of your tooth loss. If you’re missing all or most of your teeth, affordable dentures may be the right solution for you. Dentures are a cost-effective way to replace a full arch of missing teeth. They can be used as a permanent solution or as a temporary one until you’re ready for something more expensive and permanent, such as dental implants.

Denture Process at Maynard Family Dentists

The process for getting dentures begins with a consultation at Maynard Family Dentists, your local dentist’s office for affordable dentures. We offer both full and partial dentures.

We’ll take measurements and impressions of your gums and bite to design dentures that are visually appealing and comfortable for you. If you need any extractions, we schedule a time for quick, painless extractions. Next, we’ll fit you with a temporary set of dentures while we work on your permanent ones.

A few weeks later, you’ll come back to Maynard Family Dentists so that we can make sure your new set fits comfortably and securely. We want you to leave our office smiling confidently!

Depending on the type of denture you’ve chosen, they will need to be replaced after five to eight years as they begin to wear down over time. In order to help keep costs low for our patients, Maynard Family Dentists has created a variety of low-cost options for those interested in or needing dentures.

Financial & Insurance Call Maynard Family Dentists Learn More About Dentures

 

Signs of Gum Disease

Gum disease is a result of bacterial growth in your mouth that causes harm to the gum tissue surrounding your teeth. While some symptoms are easier to ignore, if gum disease is untreated it can lead to bone and tooth loss. Don’t ignore the signs of gum disease—we can treat the problem before it gets worse. At Maynard Family Dentists in Maynard, MA we offer gum disease treatment solutions for any stage of gum disease.

The earliest sign of periodontitis is an irritated gum line that might present some discomfort or bleeding when you brush, floss, or have your teeth cleaned professionally. If not treated, the gums will start to retract and pull away from the teeth. This creates spaces between the teeth and gums called periodontal pockets that can quickly become filled with harmful accumulations. Your dentist will typically measure the depths of these pockets to determine how far the condition has spread and what treatment is needed to correct the problem. If gum disease eventually makes its way down to the jawbone and the connective tissues of teeth, the jawbone can deteriorate, and teeth can be lost.

Common Symptoms of Periodontal Disease

  • Gum recession
  • “Long teeth”
  • Tooth mobility (loose tooth/movement)
  • Sore teeth when you chew/bite
  • Spaces between teeth
  • Deep pockets under your gums
  • Visible bone loss on X-rays
  • Heavy tartar buildup
  • Bad breath
  • Bleeding when you brush and floss
  • Swollen, red gums

Please keep in mind that if you smoke, vape, or use tobacco products, you may not see the same symptoms as someone who doesn’t. Your tissues could look “healthy” due to the lack of bleeding or swelling, even if the disease is present.

Gum disease is a very common oral health problem that with proper treatment can minimize the harmful effects. Call our team at Maynard Family Dentists with any questions and for treatment options.

Learn More

Maynard Family Dentists

9 Digital Way Suite #4
Maynard MA 01754
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Hours

Monday: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Thursday: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Phone

978-897-5020

Email Address

[email protected]