Brighten your smile with care
Stained and Discolored Teeth
Tooth discoloration can affect how confident you feel when you smile. Stains may appear as yellow, brown, gray, or dull areas on the teeth, and they can develop gradually over time or appear after injury, medication use, or changes in enamel.
Some stains affect the surface of the tooth, while others develop within the tooth structure. Surface stains are often linked to coffee, tea, red wine, berries, tobacco use, plaque buildup, or tartar. Deeper discoloration may be related to aging, trauma, certain medications, or changes in the inner layer of the tooth.
At Wentworth Dental, our team can assess the type and cause of discoloration and discuss treatment options that may help refresh the appearance of your smile.
Why Teeth Become Stained or Discolored
Types of Tooth Stains
Tooth stains are often grouped into two main types: extrinsic stains and intrinsic stains. Extrinsic stains affect the outer enamel surface and may be easier to improve with professional cleanings or whitening. Intrinsic stains develop inside the tooth and may require a different cosmetic approach.
Understanding the type of staining is important because not every discoloration responds the same way to whitening. During your visit, our Nanaimo Dental Clinic can review your oral health, shade concerns, and goals before recommending a treatment option.
Common causes of stained or discolored teeth include pigmented foods and drinks, tobacco use, plaque and tartar buildup, enamel wear, aging, dental trauma, certain medications, and changes inside the tooth structure.
Treatment depends on the cause and depth of the discoloration. Professional dental cleanings can help remove surface buildup and some external stains. Teeth whitening with Pola may be recommended for patients who want to brighten their smile and are good candidates for whitening.
For deeper stains or tooth discoloration that does not respond well to whitening, other cosmetic treatments may be discussed based on your oral health and goals. Our team can help explain what may be realistic and which option may be right for your smile.
To help reduce future staining, brush and floss consistently, keep up with dental cleanings, limit staining foods and drinks when possible, rinse with water after coffee or tea, and avoid tobacco products.
