Tooth discoloration and stains on your teeth are common occurrences that can happen for a variety of reasons. The good news? Many of these stains are treatable and preventable.

Here’s what you need to know about the causes of tooth discoloration and stains, and what you can do to keep your pearly whites looking their best.

Types of Tooth Discoloration (Stains)

Tooth discoloration falls into three different categories: External ,Internal, and Age-related.

External stain-

With external tooth discoloration, it’s likely that the stains are only affecting the tooth enamel, or the surface of the tooth. The most common causes of external stains include:

• food
• beverages
• tobacco

This type of tooth stain responds well to regular dental cleaning and professional teeth whitening.

Internal stain-

This type of stain is located within the tooth, which makes it more resistant to over-the-counter whitening products. It often appears grayish. Examples of internal stains include:

• certain medications
• trauma or injury to a tooth
• tooth decay
• too much fluoride
• genetics

Age-related-

When you age, the enamel on your teeth begins to wear away, which often results in a yellow appearance. Many times, age-related discoloration may be caused by both extrinsic and intrinsic factors

What can cause tooth discolouration?

Teeth stains have many causes. Certain foods and drinks can cause teeth stains, and as we’ve talked about, tooth discoloration is also a product of several biological factors, including the transparency of your tooth enamel

There are many causes of discolored teeth—some of which could have possibly been prevented, and many of which are beyond your control. This comprehensive list can help you determine the cause of discolored teeth, and in many cases, help prevent further discoloring of your teeth.

Food & Drink:

• Coffee
• Tea
• Dark sodas
• Red wine
• Chocolate
• Paan

Tobacco:

• Cigarettes
• Chewing tobacco
• Betel nut

Oral Care:

• Poor dental hygiene, such as inadequate brushing or flossing, can lead to tooth discoloration.

Trauma or Disease:

• Any trauma, illness, or disease that affects enamel development in children—either in the womb or while teeth are developing (under the age of 8)—can cause discolored teeth.
• Trauma to adult teeth can also cause discolored teeth. In addition, there are a few diseases and disease treatments that can cause discolored teeth. Chemotherapy and radiation, for example, discolor teeth.

Medical Treatments:

• High blood pressure medications
• Chemotherapy
• Antihistamines
• some antipsychotic medications

Staining by color

Yellow.

People who smoke or use chewing tobacco can develop yellow staining on their teeth. Yellow discoloration can also be caused by:

• beverages like tea, coffee, or red wine
• a diet that’s high in simple sugars
• certain medications
• poor oral hygiene
• chronic dry mouth

Brown.

Brown spots or discoloration can have many causes. Some of the most common causes include:

• tobacco use
• beverages like tea, coffee, cola, and red wine
• fruits like blueberries, blackberries, and pomegranates
• untreated tooth decay
• tartar buildup

White.

• A cavity can cause a white spot on your tooth that turns darker as it becomes more advanced
• Too much fluoride can also produce white spots on your teeth.

Black.

A black spot or stain can be caused by:

• an advanced dental cavity
• fillings and crowns that contain silver sulfide
• liquid iron supplements

What can you do to get rid of stains?

There are many products and procedures that can whiten your teeth and eliminate or reduce the appearance of stains.

Generally speaking, teeth whitening options fall into three broad categories. They include:

In-office treatment.

Your dentist will typically use a higher concentration of hydrogen peroxide for teeth whitening compared with at-home products. In-office treatment works quickly and the effects usually last longer than other methods.

At-home treatments through your dentist.

Some dentists can make custom trays to use on your teeth at home. You’ll add a gel to the tray and wear it on your teeth for up to 1 hour a day, or as recommended by your dentist. You may need to wear the trays for a few weeks to achieve results.

Over-the-counter products.

Whitening toothpastes and whitening strips may be able to diminish surface stains, but are much less effective on intrinsic stains that are located inside your teeth.

We, however, won't recommend this without a consultation with your dentist as some products can cause tooth sensitivity or gum irritation.

Additionally, make sure to visit your dentist for regular dental cleanings. Regular checkups and cleanings can often help to reduce the appearance of stains and spots.

When should you see a dentist?

If you notice a change in the color of your teeth and it doesn’t get better regular brushing and cleaning, it’s a good idea to follow up with your dentist.

If the staining appears to be deep, and if no over-the-counter whitening agents are able to get rid of the staining, it could be something more serious, such as a cavity or demineralization of enamel

If only one tooth is discolored, it may be due to a cavity or an injury to the inside of your tooth. The sooner these types of issues get treated by your dentist, the better the outcome will likely be.

We  recommend to get a regular check-up and professional cleaning polishing done every six months. It’s often during these appointments that problems are discovered. When treatment is done early, it can help prevent the issue from becoming more complicated.

How can you prevent discoloration?

Care for your teeth after eating pigmented foods. If you’re planning to consume pigmented food or drinks, we recommend brushing and flossing as soon as you’ve finished. If that’s not possible, then drinking or swishing with water can help remove at least some particles that can stain your teeth.

Practice good oral health. We recommend brushing your teeth at least two  times per day, flossing daily and also using a water flosser, as well as a fluoridated toothpaste or mouthwash.

Modify your habits. If you smoke or chew tobacco, talk to your doctor about a cessation program to quit. You may also want to cut back on foods and beverages that can stain your teeth.

There are many home remedies easily accessible on the internet and I'm sure you must have searched for them once or someone recommended an easy quick-fix solution for your discolored teeth. We would however, advise you to exercise caution and not fall for such quick fix traps as you might cause more harm.