{"id":490,"date":"2025-05-13T13:49:55","date_gmt":"2025-05-13T13:49:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.boylesgeneraldentistrymtx.com\/blog\/?p=490"},"modified":"2025-05-22T13:44:40","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T13:44:40","slug":"understand-your-tooth-stains-find-the-right-treatment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.boylesgeneraldentistrymtx.com\/blog\/2025\/05\/13\/understand-your-tooth-stains-find-the-right-treatment\/","title":{"rendered":"Understand Your Tooth Stains, Find the Right Treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"
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When you started to do your own laundry, you likely realized quickly that not all stains come off using the same method. For example, bleach doesn’t work on everything! Various cleaning products sit on store shelves claiming to take care of specific types of messes. Did you know that dentistry offers several solutions to help patients get rid of multiple kinds of tooth stains? Here are the major types of discoloration and what you can do to correct them!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Extrinsic Tooth Stains<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Just like the words external or extrovert, extrinsic stains concern discoloration on the outside surfaces of your teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Causes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Mostly, the enamel or exterior of your teeth have microscopic holes or nooks in them, and tiny molecules of deeply pigmented foods and drinks can get trapped and eventually make your teeth appear yellow or brown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Treatment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, this type of discoloration tends to be remarkably simple to fix! Daily brushing and flossing clear out larger, more recent deposits of discoloration, and a professional cleaning at your dentist\u2019s office every six months can provide extra brilliance. Although whitening treatment is sold in most grocery stores and online, if you want a more powerful option, professional-grade teeth whitening treatment<\/a>, such as Zoom!, can penetrate these nooks and eliminate the stains from 6 to 10 shades in just an hour-long appointment or in the comfort of your own home in about two weeks!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Intrinsic Tooth Stains<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Intrinsic means on the inside, suggesting that intrinsic tooth discoloration occurs in more inner layers of the enamel and tooth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Causes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As beneficial as frequent contact with fluoride can be against cavities, drinking too much in your water, especially as a child under the age of 8, could lead to fluorosis, a condition in which teeth become discolored on the inside. Often, intrinsic tooth stains come from certain circumstances that are outside your control. For instance, some medications or conditions can come with less than radiant side effects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Treatment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Typically, this kind of discoloration doesn\u2019t respond to traditional whitening treatments alone, whether over-the-counter or prescribed by a dentist. In this situation, your dentist may recommend covering the stains by replacing the front surface of the tooth with a more stain-resistant ceramic product called a veneer<\/a>. Another, less expensive option is cosmetic dental bonding, which uses the same material as tooth-colored fillings to hide this imperfection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For fluorosis, some rare dentists can combine professional teeth whitening with Opalustre fluorosis treatment<\/a> to restore brilliance even in this more advanced, complicated situation. This method removes these challenging stains without the need for synthetic materials covering your teeth!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Age-Caused Stains<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As you age, you\u2019ll probably find that tooth stains become more common or more noticeable. This type consists of at least a little bit of extrinsic and intrinsic discoloration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Causes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

What role does \u201cgetting older\u201d play in discoloring your teeth? Age does several things to your smile:<\/p>\n\n\n\n