CAUSES OF STAINED/DISCOLORED TEETH

CAUSES OF STAINED TEETH

Dental experts are of the view that human teeth were by no means intended to be pure white and that color range should be between yellow to light yellow-red. Incredible?. White or yellow, the significant thing is that with time every ones' teeth turn out to be darker in color. It is normal for the teeth of a new born baby to be bright white and for the teeth of an elderly person to be dark in color.

         A good number of people accept as true that poor oral hygiene is the root cause of stained/discolored teeth. While this analysis may not be totally wrong, it should be noted that other factors also contribute to a large extent Genetic factors, individual metabolism, age, etc are some of the natural factors causing teeth discoloration. Others include the sort of food we take and certain thing we make use of from time to time
  Below are some of the common causes of teeth discoloration/stains
 FOOD AND DRINKS

 (1) Tea
                          
 (2)Coffee
  (3)Carbonated Drinks,
                                  
  (4)Kola Nuts
                                   
 (5) Red Wine
  (6) Apples
                                  

  (7) Potatoes
                                  
  (8) Tomato Sauce
                                    
  (9) Acidic foods and beverages

                  
                                      
                                
       TOBACCO AND TOBACCO PRODUCTS:
                                                      
 TOBACCO and Tobacco products, whether smoked or chewed, cause teeth staining/discoloration. Because the teeth are porous, they can absorb the Nicotine contained in Tobacco and thus becoming stained with it .Cigarettes, pipes, cigars. and locale snuff which is chewed are the common forms of Tobacco. They all stain the teeth /cause teeth discoloration in addition to serious health complications.
MEDICATIONS
                                                   
Antibiotics such as tetracycline and  its derivatives such as doxycycline and minocycline are known to discolor the teeth of young children. They should therefore not be given to them. When used in excess, the fluorides are known to discolor teeth. Excessive fluoride from toothpastes, drinking water source, fluoride supplements, or fluoride applications could result in white spots on the teeth. Other casualty medications include Antihistamine drugs such as Benadryl,, antihypertensive and antipsychotic drugs. These medications discolor the teeth with usage. 

DISEASES: Most diseases affecting the hard surface of the teeth called the enamel in medical jargon and the material under the enamel medically known as the Dentin also cause teeth discoloration. Added to these, some treatments such as head and neck radiation or chemotherapy could also cause teeth staining/discoloration. Some infections in pregnant women could also cause teeth discoloration in the infant as they affect the development of the enamel.

 GENETIC FACTORS:

Some people are born with naturally brighter teeth than other. And some have naturally thicker enamel.

DENTAL MATERIALS

Silver sulfide containing materials used in Dentistry can give the teeth a grey-black coloration,

AGE FACTOR

As age set in the color of the teeth becomes darker. The outer layer of enamel gets worn out and the natural yellow color of dentin comes to the surface replacing your normal white teeth color.

ACCIDENT:

The death of the nerves supplying moisture and nutrients to the teeth as a result of accident resulting in breakage of the teeth could cause a discoloration of the teeth. This can happen to both adult and children