Are you one of the many Americans who like drinking coffee, tea, and wine regularly? These beverages have one thing in common - they all cause brown dental stains. While these teeth discolourations are not dangerous to oral health, but teeth staining can take a serious toll not only on your smile but also confidence and self-esteem, too.
The good news is that there are all-natural and professional-grade solutions to manage brown stains, so you can maintain a healthy and beautiful smile. Here is helpful information on how you can eliminate those unsightly brown stains.
What Are The Causes Of Brown Stains?
Tooth discolouration is due to various causes including illness, trauma, food and drinks, tobacco smoking, genetics, certain medications, and bad oral hygiene, to name a few. Brown spots on the teeth develop when teeth get stained. These teeth imperfections can be extremely embarrassing for many of us.
Apart from aesthetics, it is crucial to get rid of brown spots other teeth discolourations since they can significantly impact health and wellness in many ways.
The number one cause of brown spots is smoking. Nicotine that is present in cigarettes, pipes, and cigars is the causative factor of brown discolouration of the teeth.
Medications that result in discolouration are tetracyclines, and dark-coloured foods and drinks may also cause your teeth to showcase discolourations. Poor oral care and hygiene, especially among children, an injury, or trauma to the teeth and gums, as well as certain medical conditions also lead to brown spots on the teeth. Even brushing regularly with high quality toothbrushes like sonicare or oral-b, sometimes may not be enough.
Professional-grade Treatments for Brown Stains on Teeth
Brown stains can be eliminated by utilizing professional and at-home whitening systems. There are many treatment solutions and whitening products at a dental clinic that you can purchase to deal with brown spots. These discolourations are exterior stains that can be treated with in-clinic procedures such as polishing and teeth whitening.
One huge benefit of in-office treatments is that you can see visible results immediately after the procedure. The teeth discolouration removal procedure is completed for a few appointments and can be costly over time.
1. Dental Prophylaxis
Exterior stains are thoroughly cleaned through a dental prophylaxis treatment. Dental cleaning has a few benefits. It cleans superficial stains from the teeth as well as protects the teeth and gums from more severe damage and disease development.
2. Scaling
Scaling is performed for the presence of inflammation. The dental hygienist will start the procedure by scaling the teeth using an ultrasonic scaler to eliminate hardened plaque.
After scaling, a manual scaler will be used to remove all the debris that is found in between the teeth.
During polishing, a paste is applied on the teeth to extensively polish all surface stains. This is highly effective in eliminating stains and spots from tobacco smoking, drinking of dark-coloured beverages and food items.
3. Power Bleaching
Power bleaching utilizes a combination of hydrogen peroxide and bleaching gels to knock off stains and to brighten the teeth.
Bleaching agents can cause different degrees of irritation, which is why the gums and the mouth should be separated by a protective dental dam. This technique uses light to speed up the teeth whitening process. In this technique, a whitening gel is directly applied on the teeth, and a laser or LED light is passed over it.
The unique light then triggers the whitening gel to remove brown spots and other discolourations. A short 30 to a 60-minute session will deliver dramatic results of up to 3 to 4 shades lighter. The whitening effect can last for one to two years or depending on regular maintenance and follow-up care.
4. Porcelain Veneers and Composite Bonding
For chronic and darker exterior staining, alternative solutions are recommended, too. Porcelain veneers and composite bonding are solutions that can cover the teeth and mask cosmetic imperfections.
Bonding is an excellent method to use when you suffer from brown spots. This procedure uses a composite resin on existing teeth and can cover visible stains for a more natural-looking smile. This treatment will require you to get frequent cleanings of at least four times a year, since composite resin is known to easily stain, too.
Installation of porcelain veneers is the gold standard to conceal stains and fix gaps in teeth as well. They offer a more permanent solution, hence are more expensive than composite bonding. Veneers are made up of layers of think porcelain shells that adhere to the underlying structure of a tooth. They are customized based on personal preferences and qualities to guarantee a more natural-looking smile.
During a porcelain veneer application, a minimal amount of tooth enamel is scraped off, and the entire procedure might require a few sessions to complete. Porcelain veneers present a new way to hide stains almost instantaneously. It is similar to composite bonding, but instead of resin, it makes use of laminated veneers on teeth that are proven to be more durable and does not stain very easily than resin.
Home Remedies for Brown Spots on Teeth
Natural remedies are significantly gentler, milder, and produce results after a long period time of practice or use. There are many over-the-counter kits that you can purchase from the dental clinic or pharmacy.
OTC treatment solutions are perfect for mild to average staining and works best for people who are used to using home teeth whitening treatment systems.
These treatments are known to have related side effects; hence moderation is key to produce the best results.
Tray-based teeth whitening
It can be used as a standalone treatment or a combination treatment with in-clinic teeth whitening. The trays are filled with whitening gel that fit on to teeth for a few minutes. You may use these trays on a daily basis while some will require you to wear them a few times a week.
Teeth-whitening strips
Teeth-whitening strips are relatively more convenient than using whitening trays for home use. These strips are installed on to teeth for 30 minutes for 10 to 20 consecutive days for best results.
Teeth-whitening pens
Whitening pens or brushes feature hydrogen peroxide that is directly smeared to the teeth’s surface. Once painted, let the solution stay and completely dry for 30 minutes.
Brown spots are caused by a wide range of factors, including eating habits and dental hygiene. Professional help that prevents, treats, and conceals straining are excellent if you need to resolve brown stains immediately. However, if you are on a tight budget, you may also use at-home whitening products such as trays, strips, and pens to produce great results for people with mild to medium staining issues.