We all dream of permanent white teeth, our smile is not disturbed by a change in color or pigmentation, but unfortunately it is not what one would like to realize, as tooth pigmentation is very common, and many people seek to avoid it or get rid of it either by visiting the dentist on an ongoing basis, or by lifestyle changes.

Pigmentation colors range according to the cause between yellowish-brown and blackish-brown, and their appearance varies, as they may appear irregularly, or in the form of brown lines. In this article, we will learn together about the causes of these pigmentations, their colors, and how to get rid of them.

Types of tooth pigmentation

Dental professionals have divided tooth pigmentation into three different categories as follows:

• External tooth pigmentation: They are stains that affect the outer surface of the tooth, or the tooth enamel, and are caused by an external source such as food and drinks.
• Internal tooth pigmentation: It is a type of pigmentation that stems from within the tooth itself, which makes it more resistant to teeth whitening products used without a prescription, and this type results from many causes such as side effects of some medications, tooth decay, excessive fluoride, or heredity.
• Age-related pigmentation: With age, the tooth enamel begins to erode, making the teeth permanently yellow. Age-related tooth stains may be caused by external or internal factors.

What are the causes of tooth pigmentation?

There are many causes that lead to tooth discoloration, the most prominent of which are:

Food, beverages, and tobacco

There are some foods and drinks that penetrate into the outer layer of the teeth and cause staining, such as tea, coffee, red sauce (sauce), chocolate, alcohol, and soda.

Of course, smoking is one of the most prominent causes of tooth pigmentation, as well as chewing tobacco.

lime

Bacteria mixes with saliva and food residues to form a deposited layer on the teeth, and it can be removed by brushing the teeth daily and using floss.

tooth decay

The bacteria in the dental tartar feed on the sugars you eat, then secrete an acid that erodes the tooth enamel, which causes the yellow layers of the teeth to appear underneath, and then soon appears yellowish-brown.

If the decay is severe enough, the acid may cause a hole inside the tooth, and it may appear in a darker color, and the bacteria may then erode the tooth and reach the nerve that makes the tooth more sensitive to heat and cold.

DNA

The natural color of the teeth varies between people, as you find the color of one person’s teeth yellowish in another person, and the genes also differ in the following:

• Tooth enamel strength.
• How enamel responds to pigments and acids.
• The extent of enamel erosion.
• Genetic disorders such as dentinogenesis imperfecta, a genetic disease in which teeth completely lose their natural colour.
• Developmental problems that interfere with the growth of teeth and bones.

Previous dental work

Such as dental fillings, crowns, or bridges, as they may lose their color over time. In addition, the metal filling may transfer its color to the rest of the tooth over time.

Antibiotics

Side effects of some medications may lead to tooth discoloration, such as:

• Tetracycline (a type of antibiotic).
• Chlorhexidine (an antiseptic found in some mouthwashes).
• Glibenclamide (a medicine for diabetes).

Excessive exposure to fluoride

It is possible that excessive exposure to fluoride is one of the causes of tooth discoloration in children, especially those under the age of eight, and it may appear in the form of white or gray lines in the teeth, and dark brown spots in severe cases.

Teeth pigmentation colours

Teeth stains appear in different colors depending on the causes caused by them. Here are these colors:

• yellow spots: Its causes include foods and beverages such as coffee, tea, alcohol, high-sugar meals, or certain medications, lack of attention to oral hygiene, or chronic dry mouth.
• Brown spots: Among its causes are smoking, tea, coffee, and some types of fruits such as pomegranates, berries, and blueberries, or tartar buildup, and untreated tooth decay.
• white spots: Its causes are due to excessive exposure to fluoride, or tooth decay in its infancy before changing its color.
• dark spots: One of the causes of blackened teeth is severe caries, fillings, and crowns that contain silver sulfide and liquid iron components.

How to get rid of tooth stains

There are many products and methods used to whiten teeth, get rid of pigmentation, and in general, here are the main steps to treat them:

• Dentist visit: Teeth pigmentation in children and adults can be treated in the dentist’s office, as he assesses the condition of the teeth and takes the necessary measures either by treating caries, cleaning tartar, polishing, or whitening the teeth.
• Home remedies under medical supervision: Such as dental molds made by the doctor, where the doctor asks to fill them with special gel and wear them for an hour a day.
• Home remedies using over-the-counter products: Such as toothpaste to remove pigmentation, whitening, or tooth whitening plasters, and they may have good results for external pigmentation, but they are not the expected results for internal pigmentation.

Now that you know the most important details about tooth pigmentation, do you realize the causes of pigmentation that you suffer from? Go to the doctor to get advice, take the necessary measures.