Understanding the source of the discoloration

Narcotics consumption

Continuous or addictive consumption of tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, or similar kinds of drugs can lead to staining. When continued for years, the teeth might become dark brown or gray in color.

Stained foods or beverages

Berries, coffee, tea, soy sauce, tomato sauce, or red wine—these are colored foods or beverages that can cause staining when consumed frequently.

Past trauma or incidents

You might have been injured or met with an incident even years ago. Still, after a long period, it can cause a change of color. Dentists refer to this as tooth trauma discoloration.

Internal structural damage

Natural or induced, some teeth’s internal structures can get damaged and may cause yellowing. Indeed, this is a sign to undergo a serious dental diagnosis.

Aging of the enamel layer

As you age, your teeth’s enamel layer can get worn off and can deviate from its original crystal white to pale yellow or brown. In this case, the original color tone can be achieved with professional teeth whitening.

Specialized medications

Taking specialized medications can damage or discolor the teeth. And this case occurs rarely for individuals.

Previous dental treatments

Wearing braces or undergoing any dental restoration treatment can cause your teeth to be discolored. This cause is common among children and teens undergoing aesthetic orthodontic treatments.

By now, you would have obtained the answers to “What causes tooth discoloration in people?” Now comes the most important part—the types of staining. Because the whitening treatment majorly depends on the type of staining and its cause.

Discoloration and its types

1. Common staining or yellowing

This type involves a group of discolored teeth. The most common cause for this type is surface color change. Yes, repeated consumption of stained foods can cause stains on the enamel layer, causing one or more teeth to be discolored.

2. Isolated or single tooth discoloration

As the name implies, this type of yellowing occurs in only one tooth, not a group of teeth. The most common cause for this type is internal damage to the tooth’s structure, pulp, or blood vessels, unlike surface staining affecting one or more teeth.

Frequently asked questions

1. Are over-the-counter whitening kits helpful for discoloration?

Though they might help to an extent in the case of surface staining, it is always better to consult your dentist.

2. Which is the most effective stained tooth treatment for isolated discoloration?

As the cause for this is internal, internal whitening becomes the right and most effective treatment. Surface whitening does not help solve this type.

3. What is that one common cause for teeth yellowing?

Certainly, there is no one common cause that we can arrive at when it comes to the yellowing or staining of teeth. As clearly mentioned earlier, it varies from one individual to another.