Types of Tooth Discolouration

Posted by Dr Philip Song on August 20th, 2019

Tooth discolouration is the unusual shade or colour of your teeth and there are two types of discolouration.

1. Extrinsic or External Discolouration

- This is the build-up of dirt and stains on the tooth's surface or the enamel. These stains are often brought about by;

• food and drinks that we normally take like coffee, tea, wine or cola.
• dental plaque usually invisible on tooth's surface but is often stained by chromogenic bacteria.
• calculus if left unchecked may lead to the formation of hard deposits on teeth that vary colour from grey yellow, black or brown.
• too much tobacco or tar usually forms a yellow, brown or black stain above the gum line.
• exposure to metallic compounds like iron & iodine(black stain),copper & nickel(green stain)and cadmium (yellow-brown).

2. Intrinsic or Internal Discolouration

- This is the assimilation and penetration of pigment particles into the tooth structure or the dentin. These types of stains come from;

• chronic or too much exposure to fluoride during childhood, using tetracycline which is a broad-spectrum antibiotic which creates calcium ions that can be incorporated into the teeth, cartilage and bones
• experiencing tooth trauma before permanent teeth were developed, internal bleeding caused by trauma in the permanent tooth
• genetic disorders that cause grey, amber or purple discolourations called dentinogenesis imperfecta or dentin formation defect called dentinogenesis imperfecta.
• dental carries that begin as a translucent white spot on enamel's surface but due to demineralization progression the underlying brown colour becomes visible
• pulp necrosis wherein the teeth actually die because of extensive tooth decay
• too much amalgam fillings often cause stain on the tooth they are put in.

But discolouration can also be intrinsic and extrinsic at the same time, this is true in age-related cases wherein the teeth covering called enamel gradually gets thinner as we age due to tooth processes such as attrition and acid erosion, this, in turn, causes the dentin to show through and to turn yellow over time, teeth also stains a lot easier when you smoke as you grow older and when you get injuries that cause chips that damages your tooth pulp.

Symptoms of teeth discolouration can be as simple as white streaks, yellow shades and brown spots. Although a yellow tint may be evident in cases wherein the dentin is showing through because the enamel is already deteriorated and destroyed.

Though in the case of tooth discolouration no special tests or exams are required, the dentist can immediately diagnose it by simple checking and seeing the teeth.

Simple tooth discolouration like the extrinsic stains can easily be removed by professional cleaning, this stains include coffee, tea, wine and soda stains, others, however, the intrinsic stains to be exact are more permanent because it had already penetrated thru the tooth structure, for such cases you could also use a bleaching gel but for more serious or severe stains either a crown or a veneer may be used to cover it up.

How can you prevent teeth from being discoloured anyway?

• Of course, regular brushing and flossing after eating can generally prevent stains.
• Always rinse your mouth with water after drinking wine, coffee, soda, tea or other coloured drinks.
• Practice using a straw when drinking sodas and other drinks to keep dyes that can cause staining away from your teeth.
• Quit smoking, tobacco and tar are great culprits and contributes a lot in staining your teeth.
• Stains that are caused by nerve or blood vessel damage can sometimes be prevented by having root canal therapy.

Remember, teeth discolouration is mostly the reason why people tend to look for professional dental care. Most of the time it isn't harmful and is not a health risk, though in some rare cases it may involve pulp necrosis. Just like any other dental problems the key is to identify the problem once that is done you can easily find the treatment best suited for your specific type of concern. Just don't self-medicate, always seek professional help from North Ryde Dentistry, because even if teeth discolouration isn't life-threatening, self-medication might lead to complications that could have life-altering results.