Did you know that the real natural colour of a healthy tooth isn’t actually bright white after all? As it happens, the colour of your teeth are determined by the shade of the enamel and the dentin.

The dentin, the bit inside the tooth, is a pretty yellow, whereas the tooth enamel is more of a bluish translucent, so when you put the two together you get a tooth that looks light yellow or light grey. And sometimes – yes sometimes – teeth can even look downright darker than that.

Discoloured teeth can be a real problem as it can make you feel self conscious about showing off your smile, and it can also start to show up stains on the surface of your teeth and even affect the inside of them. Sometimes its just down to the natural process of getting older, or other factors in your lifestyle.

There are three main types of tooth discoloration

• The Aging ProcessOver time the enamel on your teeth naturally gets thinner and lets the yellow dentin show through – thats why your teeth tend to turn yellow as you get older
• ExtrinsicThis is when you consume drinks or foods that stain the outer layer of your tooth enamel, or if you use tobacco, which has nasty chemicals that can stain your teeth. And of course poor dental hygiene can also cause stains to build up, so make sure you’re brushing and flossing regularly. Things that can cause extrinsic stains include cola, red wine, coffee, tea, potatoes, apples and tobacco.
• IntrinsicIn this case its the dentin inside your tooth that gets affected and gets darker or turns yellow. Some of the causes of intrinsic stains can include:
  • Taking certain meds like antipsychotics, doxycycline and tetracycline antibiotics, antihypertensives and some antihistamines. If your mum took tetracycline antibiotics when she was pregnant with you, that could also affect the colour of your teeth.
  • Certain diseases or treatments like chemotherapy can also cause tooth discoloration.
  • Exposing your teeth to too much fluoride as a kid.
  • If you’ve got a trauma to your teeth, it can cause discoloration either because the nerve has been damaged or the enamel has cracked and let the yellow dentin show through.
  • Or it could be because you’ve got dentinogenesis imperfecta, a genetic disorder that affects the way your teeth develop and can cause discoloration and weaken your teeth.

Treatments

If you’re dealing with intrinsic stains, which are the stains within the tooth itself, the best option is usually to get some porcelain veneers to cover up the imperfections. Extrinsic stains on the other hand can usually be sorted out with a professional teeth whitening treatment. But, if you want to try do something in the comfort of your own home you can use a bleaching gel that your dentist recommends. Alternatively you could use a dental crown to fix the discoloration if its caused by tooth decay or trauma.