What Causes Tooth Staining?
• Age: There is a direct correlation between tooth color and age. Over the years, teeth darken as a result of stain accumulation and as a result of wear and tear on the enamel. It thins and allows the yellower dentin to show through. • Starting color: We all start with an inborn tooth color that ranges from yellow-brownish to greenish-grey. This color intensifies over time, especially as the enamel wears and becomes thinner. • Eating habits: The habitual consumption of red wine, coffee, tea, cola, blue berries and other deeply colored beverages and foods causes considerable staining over the years. In addition, acidic foods such as citrus fruits and vinegar contribute to enamel erosion. As a result, the surface becomes more transparent and yet again more of the yellow-colored dentin shows through. • Smoking habits: Nicotine leaves brownish deposits which slowly soak into the tooth structure and cause intrinsic discoloration. • Drugs / chemicals: Tetracycline used during tooth formation
