A number of things can cause tooth staining. External tooth staining can be caused by smoking, drinking tea & coffee and eating foods that are highly coloured such as red plums, red cabbage, berries & red wine. Teeth can also be vulnerable to internal staining. Trauma to developing or erupted teeth, fever or tetracycline (antibiotic) are examples.
Most types of internal staining are highly resistant to bleaching treatments. Porcelain or composite veneers are commonly used to treat internal staining.
A visit to your general dentist for a professional scale and polish is all you need to remove most external staining. Your general dentist can also advise on bleaching or whitening your teeth.
The newest craze to hit the market for people that want a whiter & brighter smile is charcoal toothpaste. There are no studies to show that charcoal paste reduces stains or plaque levels and no scientific justification to support the use of charcoal toothpaste.
Charcoal toothpaste can be highly abrasive & cause damage to the root surfaces, some restorations and tooth enamel. Charcoal can therefore leave teeth with abrasive lesions as well as damage the gum tissue.
Make sure you speak to your general dentist for advice about stain removal.
