How to Remove Stains from Teeth

Do you spend a lot of time wondering how to remove stains from your teeth? Nobody likes having stained teeth, but the good news is there are a number of solutions. Let’s discuss what these solutions are, what causes teeth staining, the types of stains, and other useful info.

Types Of Stains
There are three main types of stains. They include:

1. Extrinsic. Extrinsic stains affect the outer part of the tooth or the enamel. These types of stains are the easiest of the three stains to remove.

2. Intrinsic. This type of staining occurs within the tooth. Intrinsic stains can cause teeth to appear gray. Removing intrinsic stains can be difficult.

3. Age-Related. Teeth can show signs of discoloration as people start to age. The enamel becomes weaker and this can cause teeth to become stained.

What Causes Teeth Staining
Extrinsic stains are commonly caused by various foods and beverages. The top culprits are coffee, tea, and red wine. Chocolate, red sauces, and junk food, in general, can also cause stains. Beverages that contain high amounts of sugar, such as juices and sodas, can stain teeth. Cigarettes and chewing tobacco can also cause discoloration of the teeth.

Intrinsic stains are a result of dentin becoming stained. Dentin is the layer under the enamel. Stain-causing particles can accumulate within the tooth enamel. When this happens, then intrinsic teeth stains can occur.

Injuries to the mouth can lead to staining, and so can certain medications. Other causes of staining include poor oral hygiene, such as not brushing regularly or not brushing at all. There are also over-the-counter medications and prescription medications that can cause teeth stains.

Professional Solutions
There are professional teeth removal stain solutions. We’ll talk you through a few of them, as well as the pros and cons for each.

1. Veneers. If you want to know how to remove deep stains, then veneers might be your best option. Veneers are thin shells that go over a few teeth or all of your teeth.

Pros

• Instant results
• Get extremely white teeth
• Easy to maintain

Cons

• Expensive
• Need to be replaced every 15-20 years

2. In-Office Whitening. A dental professional has a number of ways to remove your stains. The most common ways are using whitening trays with a peroxide solution and/or using special lights as part of the whitening process. Check out our Zoom! whitening page to learn more.

Pros

• Safe procedure
• Whiter teeth possible after one procedure
• Affordable

Cons

• Several treatments are usually needed
• Overdoing it may cause teeth sensitivity

3. Bonding. Bonding is when material is fused to the teeth that are stained. As a result, the color of the teeth will be altered.

Pros

• Simple procedure
• Safe
• Not that expensive

Cons

• Teeth can still become stained by smoking, sugary beverages, certain foods and so forth

At-Home Solutions
There are lots of at-home solutions available. The top ones include:

1. Whitening Toothpaste. This is a toothpaste that has bleaching properties in them. What a product contains depends on the brand. The way it works is you brush your teeth with the toothpaste as instructed on the label and teeth can be whitened to varying degrees.

Pros

• Get whiter teeth over time
• Easy method
• Affordable

Cons

• Results aren’t instant
• Could potentially weaken enamel over time

2. Whitening Pens. These are small pen-like devices. You use the pen to apply a thin layer of gel to your teeth. You do this after you’ve brushed your teeth.

Pros

• Convenient way to remove stains
• Easy to use
• No mess to clean up

Cons

• Not as effective as other solutions
• Pens don’t work that well on dental restorations

3. Whitening Mouthwash. Whitening mouthwash is easy to use, as you use it just like any other type of mouthwash. You swoosh a little bit of it inside your mouth before spitting it out. How often you use it depends on several factors such as the type of whitening mouthwash you get and the severity of the stains.

Pros

• Potentially get whiter teeth within weeks
• Fight gum disease
• Fresher breath

Cons

• Not guaranteed to work
• Results take a while to achieve

Final Verdict
Removing stains from your teeth is possible. Determine which solution is right for you by considering the pros and cons of each. After you do this, you can decide which stain removal method you should try.

If you’re located in Southeast Michigan and would like to learn more about your options for removing stains, contact your nearest Fortson Dentistry location and set up an appointment today.