Stained teeth: causes and treatment
Want white teeth? Welcome to the club! Studies show that in most countries, the popularity of teeth whitening is surging - particularly among those aged under 35.
If the proliferation of bright, white smiles on social media is causing you to take a closer look at your own teeth, and you’re noticing they’re more yellow-ish than pearly white, teeth whitening could be an option for you. But before you go down that path, finding out what has caused teeth staining, and how to treat it, would be a great place to start.
We hit up Clear Dental's Dr Johnson Huang to talk teeth-staining truths.
What causes stained and yellow teeth?
Short answer? A lot!
“The most common causes of stained teeth I see are poor dental hygiene and drinks like coffee, tea and wine,” Johnson says. “And in elderly patients, certain medications can cause discolouration too.”
Most causes fall into one of two distinct categories – stains caused by lifestyle habits and those resulting from poor dental health.
Lifestyle habits that cause stained teeth
Foods and drinks – coffee, tea, colas, wine and some starchy foods such as pasta or potatoes
Tobacco (chewing or smoking)
Poor dental health habits that cause stained teeth
Not flossing or brushing your teeth
Diseases and certain medical treatments, such as radiation and chemotherapy
Certain medications
Ageing – the white outer layer of teeth gets worn away as we age
Genetics
An excess of fluoride
Trauma – such as sports injuries
Preventing teeth staining
There are three main ways to prevent your teeth from taking on an unappealing yellow tinge:
Keep up great oral health habits – that means flossing your teeth every day and brushing both morning and night
Cut back on tooth-staining foods (think: tea, coffee, red wine). And if you do partake, make a point of brushing and flossing, or at least swishing some water around your mouth, after you’ve eaten them
Quit smoking – contact Quitline if you need support
Ways to treat stained and yellow teeth
OK, so you have stained and yellow teeth, now what? Great news – in many cases, reversing teeth stains is possible.
Consulting with a dentist is key – and not just for cosmetic reasons. A dentist can tailor a treatment plan to the cause of staining, and any underlying problems will be ruled out too.
“Even though the condition doesn’t cause any immediate harm or symptoms, ongoing stained teeth can be a warning signal of oral dental deterioration,” Johnson explains.
Your dentist can often remove superficial stains using tools like ultrasonic scalers and prophy jets, says Johnson. And if they’re deeper than that, peroxide-based whitening systems such as Zoom and Pola White might be the best approach. While there are plenty of at-home whitening options out there, there are risks involved in using them. The safest way to whiten teeth is by visiting your dentist, says the Australian Dental Association.
“In rare cases, however, whitening doesn’t work,” Johnson adds. “In these cases, dental veneers can be a very good alternative to discoloured teeth.”
Ready to visit a dentist, but not sure where to start? If you currently hold nib Extras cover, your first port of call should be First Choice Dental network. This is our community of specially selected health providers who promise to deliver both quality care and value for money.1
Enjoy No Gap preventative dental check-ups with participating dental practitioners. Using No Gap services helps you save on out-of-pocket costs and makes your dental Extras go further.2
Use the Find a Provider tool to locate your nearest dental practitioner. If you can't find a No Gap dentist nearby, you can still access our First Choice network of dental practitioners to get agreed rates on some common dental treatments.1
The tips throughout this article serve as broad information and should not replace any advice you have been given by your medical practitioner.
1nib First Choice providers (i.e. our network) offer competitive fees for many commonly claimed treatments and consultations. These fees are reviewed at least annually and are subject to change. Always check nib.com.au/health-services/find-a-provider before booking to see if your provider participates or simply ask your provider if they are part of nib’s network at the time of booking. Providers occasionally leave the nib First Choice network so it’s important to check before booking to avoid disappointment. Annual limits, waiting periods and T&Cs apply.
2Payment by nib of dental benefits is subject to serving relevant waiting periods, annual limits and service limits. Check your cover by visiting your member account or call 13 16 42. The dental check-up covers an examination or consultation (011 to 015), diagnostics (022, 037) scale and clean (114, 115) or removal of plaque (111), fluoride treatment (121) as deemed necessary and appropriate in the clinical opinion of the dentist (dentures not included). The services provided will be deducted from your annual limits and/or service limits. The No Gap offer is not to be used in conjunction with any other offer or government scheme, nor substitutable or redeemable for cash and is only available with dentists who have a No Gap First Choice network provider agreement with nib.