How to prevent tooth discoloration

What causes tooth discoloration?

Cleveland Clinic separates two types. Extrinsic stains affect the surface enamel and come from dark foods and drinks such as coffee, tea, berries, red wine and soy sauce, smoking and tobacco, poor oral hygiene that lets stains cling to plaque, and excess fluoride in childhood. Intrinsic stains are inside the tooth and come from dental trauma, certain medications including tetracycline or doxycycline taken in childhood, chemotherapy or head and neck radiation, dental materials such as silver amalgam, root canals, and conditions such as liver disease and celiac disease. Cleveland Clinic notes some causes are unavoidable, such as aging and genetics.

How to prevent tooth discoloration

Cleveland Clinic lists these steps:

• Brush at least twice daily for two minutes with a soft brush and ADA-approved fluoride toothpaste, and floss daily.
• Limit tea, coffee, cola and red wine.
• Drink water and rinse after staining beverages.
• Wait about an hour after acidic foods such as citrus, soda or candy before brushing.
• Quit smoking, and keep up regular cleanings and exams.

Does brushing after breakfast prevent stains?

Healthline says brushing before breakfast is preferred, because it removes overnight bacteria and coats enamel with fluoride, but after breakfast is acceptable if you wait 30 to 60 minutes, because brushing straight after acidic foods can weaken enamel. Cleveland Clinic gives the same advice to wait about an hour after acidic foods. See our guide on brushing before or after breakfast.

Treatments for discoloration

Cleveland Clinic says whitening works best on surface stains, with in-office bleaching taking about an hour and take-home kits needing 30 to 60 minutes a day for up to six weeks, though some products address deeper stains. Dental bonding uses tooth-colored resin to cover deep discoloration, porcelain veneers cover widespread discoloration and are irreversible, and crowns are recommended when discoloration comes with weakened or decayed teeth. For at-home products, choose those with the ADA Seal of Acceptance, avoid activated charcoal and citric acid, and check with your dentist first.

How to whiten a dead front tooth

Cleveland Clinic says gray discoloration may mean the nerve inside the tooth has died, and that a single tooth that suddenly changes color may be from decay, injury or a dead nerve, so get a dental assessment after an injury rather than assuming it will heal. The sources we read do not give a home method for a dead tooth. Whitening on the surface will not reach the cause, so ask your dentist whether internal whitening, bonding, a veneer or a crown suits the tooth, and whether the tooth needs a root canal first.

How to whiten dentures

Healthline's denture care article warns that whitening products can change the color of dentures and should be avoided, that toothpaste abrasives can scratch dentures, that hot water can alter their shape, and that some harsh chemicals are too strong for dentures. It recommends brushing dentures at least once a day with a soft denture brush and a denture cleanser or mild soap and warm water, soaking them overnight in lukewarm or cool water or a denture-soaking solution, and not letting them dry out. The article does not describe how to remove stains, so for stained dentures ask your dentist about a professional cleaning or replacement.

How to whiten between the teeth, or kids' teeth

The sources we read do not cover whitening between teeth or children's teeth. Cleaning between teeth daily with floss or another interdental cleaner, as the ADA advises, removes plaque where stains start, and a dentist can advise on a child with discolored teeth, since cause and age matter.

Questions to ask your dentist

Ask what type of stain you have before you buy anything.

• Is my discoloration on the surface or inside the tooth?
• Is one tooth darker because of damage or a dead nerve?
• Which whitening option suits my teeth, and is it safe for my gums?
• How should I clean and whiten my dentures?
• How can I prevent stains returning?

Frequently asked questions