What causes stained teeth?
Sometimes, however, the perceived stains are of intrinsic origin, such as the case of natural process of ageing, but also as a result of excessive fluoride intake – fluorosis – or of having had intense antibiotic therapy during childhood, commonly known as tetracycline staining.
What are stained teeth?
Speak to a dental professional today
Our dentists have all the experience, skill and technology required to diagnose and treat stained teeth. Arrange an appointment with our dental team at our central London dental clinic, situated on the prestigious Wimpole Street.
- Smoking or chewing tobacco is the biggest offender when it comes to stained dentition
- Diet-related: the most common culprits are tea, red wine, colas, chocolate, soy sauce and turmeric.
- High blood pressure medications and the side effects of medical treatment such as chemotherapy for cancer can cause stained teeth
- Tetracycline antibiotics can cause the permanent staining of adult teeth if administered during early childhood
- Excessive fluoride intake, also during early childhood, can cause white patches on the enamel known as fluorosis
How to treat stained teeth?
Although the stains themselves are not a health hazard, they may indicate more serious problems such as gum disease and decay. If you’re concerned with stained teeth, we recommend that you book an appointment with your dentist who will be able to examine and diagnose the cause of your stained teeth and create a bespoke care plan. If the cause of the staining is external, a dental hygiene session would radically change the appearance of your teeth.
Professional teeth cleaning – your dental hygienist cleans your teeth with tools and techniques not available to you at home. At WSDC we have the best equipment available to very gently but effectively remove these stubborn stains, ensuring that the enamel is left unscratched.
Professional teeth whitening can have remarkable results to reverse age-related staining, or simply brightening healthy teeth that are just naturally yellow. It is by far the easiest, cheapest and least invasive way to dramatically improve the appearance of your teeth. It’s also 100% safe. Professional teeth whitening involves the application of a bleaching agent to brighten/whiten the teeth by two to three shades. Here at Wimpole Street Dental Clinic, we offer both the home bleaching and the ‘chair-side’ bleaching treatment options for our patients.
Veneers: these are very thin layers of ceramic, sometimes known as contact lenses, which are bonded to the surface of the teeth. Veneers are an incredible way to dramatically change the appearance of a smile and may be the only way to successfully improve heavily discoloured teeth. Veneers are also indicated to alter the shape of the teeth, reversing damage, ageing and wear. Like every dental treatment, veneers require high precision and obsession with detail. If done properly and with the help of an excellent ceramist, they are totally safe, and predictable, look beautifully natural and can last for decades.
Eliminate stained teeth, restore both your standout smile and your confidence with Wimpole Street Dental Clinic.
When did we last update this page?
Our expert team continually update and research the latest news and techniques in dentistry, as such we regularly update our pages and have these clinically reviewed.
Current Version
July 21st 2023
- Added “when did we last update this page” and author biography to the page.
Written by: Prof Dr Christian Mehl
Medically reviewed by: Dr Raul Costa
Previous Versions
October 2nd 2022
- Page redesigned and updated to reflect change in address.
Written by: Prof Dr Christian Mehl
Medically reviewed by: Dr Raul Costa
30th August 2021
- Original content created.
Written by: Prof Dr Christian Mehl
Medically reviewed by: Dr Raul Costa
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