Coffee, wine, and tea are all prone to leaving stains on the teeth, but there are several other factors that contribute to even deeper, more visible discoloration within your smile. Dark teeth, or teeth that look orange, gray, or black, typically develop due to factors ranging from medication use to excessive exposure to fluoride. Potential causes may include:
- Tobacco use, smoking, and poor oral hygiene: It’s no secret that smoking/chewing tobacco paired with lackluster dental hygiene can cause more severe stains to form on the enamel.
- Medication use: Certain antibiotics, such as tetracycline and doxycycline, are known to darken teeth in developing children. This discoloration can appear deeper and more noticeable than a general yellowing of the teeth.
- Disease: Treatments for certain conditions, such as radiation and chemotherapy, can negatively affect the color of the tooth’s inner core (the dentin), resulting in darker teeth.
- Dental materials: Old restorations, such as amalgam/metal fillings and crowns, often cause the enamel to turn a gray or black hue over time.
- Excessive fluoride: While fluoride has been known to help protect the teeth from cavities, excessive exposure to fluoride via rinses, toothpastes, supplements, or high fluoride levels in water can discolor your smile.
No matter the reason behind your tooth discoloration, our cosmetic dentist offers two in-office treatments designed to restore a brighter, more luminous smile. While teeth whitening is often the gold standard in lightening the tooth color by several shades, stains that cannot be lifted with teeth bleaching can be treated with porcelain veneers. Veneers look extremely natural and similar to your natural teeth, yet hide dark stains to reclaim a healthier-looking smile. We would be happy to help you determine the most ideal treatment option for your unique goals.
Dr. Landon Libby and our friendly team can help you find the best solution to lift discoloration on your teeth and give you the bright smile you deserve. Contact Libby Dental at our Mission Valley-area office to schedule an appointment for teeth whitening or to speak with a member of our staff!
