Black Stains on teeth could be an indication of some serious underlying issues. Therefore, you should not take this discoloration of teeth normally. Normally our teeth’ color varies from whitish-yellow to whitish-grey in color. Our teeth are covered by a hard covering that is known as enamel. This enamel is filled with calcium which makes it appear white in color. The white color of our teeth also comes from this source.
Teeth are an important part of our personality. White teeth are known to be a standard of beauty. They are also considered to be a sign of good oral health and hygiene. However, sometimes it happens that despite maintaining good hygiene, your teeth start developing stains or discoloration. This can happen due to a number of various reasons.
Causes of Black Stains on Teeth
If you are having an issue with black stains on your teeth you first have to determine the actual cause of this condition so that you can devise a plan to get rid of them.
Some of the most common reasons for stain development are mentioned below.
Frequent use of caffeine-containing products like coffee, tea, soda, beverages, etc.
Use of products containing nicotine like cigarettes, cigars, alcohol, and chewing tobacco.
Poor dental hygiene that results in tartar buildup on your teeth.
Prolonged use of a certain medication
Some underlying health issues can also cause stains.
Prolonged use of certain mouthwashes.
Types of Stains
Types of stains on your teeth are generally divided into two main types.
· Extrinsic: types of stains that are on the outer side of your teeth and they have not yet penetrated inside are known as extrinsic stains. They only affect the outer enamel of your teeth. They are usually caused by tartar buildup, tobacco use, certain medication, eating foods that have caffeine such as coffee, etc.
· Intrinsic: types of stains that have penetrated deep into the inside of your teeth known as dentin, or the problem has started building from the inside, are called intrinsic stains. In this case, the problem starts developing inside and gradually it will make its way outside as well.
Remedies & Treatment
Once you have identified the underlying cause of your teeth condition, you can then devise a plan to get rid of this terrible condition.
Unfortunately, these stains cannot be treated with the help of remedies. Some teeth whitening kits may prove useful in some conditions but in most cases, they do not prove to be of any help. You have to contact a professional dentist to help treat your condition.
A dentist will first examine your teeth properly and then devise the necessary treatment.
Some types of stains and their treatments are described below.
1. Old Fillings
Sometimes old fillings in your teeth do not remain fixed with the passing of time. They do not remain fixed to the teeth area properly. As a result, gaps start to form between teeth and fillings. These gaps serve as a space for bacteria to grow. These bacteria then start traveling deeper into the tooth and start to form decay in the empty space below the fillings.
Therefore, if you have fillings with stains or you have a dental decay process going on below the fillings, you should immediately visit the dentist for a checkup. He will replace the old fillings with new ones and clean the area properly below the fillings.
2. Non-Vital Tooth
In the case of a root canal treatment, the tooth involved in the process becomes dead after that. This tooth is known as a non-vital one. This tooth becomes stained with time because it is like a dead one.
In this case, your dentist will perform a procedure known as non-vital bleaching. In this process, he will drill a small hole at the back of stained teeth; fill the bleaching agent inside, and close the hole. The stains will disappear within 3-4 weeks and the tooth will appear normal in color like the others. However, in some cases, this treatment proves to be useless. In that scenario, the dentist will suggest a veneer or a crown to cover that tooth.
3. Tooth Decay
Another cause of black or stained teeth is tooth decay. Decay is the process that happens on the surface of your teeth and it results in brown or black-colored cavities.
In this case, the dentist will clean out all the cavities properly using different tools. He will also drill holes if needed to clean the inner area as well. After that, he will fill the holes with a healing material that matches the color of other teeth.
4. Intrinsic Stains
These are the stains that are formed due to some activity going on inside your tooth. They are very difficult to get rid of. A professional teeth whitening treatment is recommended by the dentist to treat this condition.
Teeth whitening is done by two methods. One method is the use of bleaching agents by the dentist in his clinic. He uses hydrogen peroxide material that will penetrate deep into the tooth and make it appear whiter in color. The other method involves the use of whitening kits. However, the latter method is not considered to be much effective.
5. Extrinsic Stains
These stains are the ones that are on the outer layer of your teeth known as enamel. They are easy to treat with scaling and polishing.
An ultrasonic scaler is used to perform the scaling process. Ultrasonic vibrations are used to break the tartar layer and the stains. After that, polishing is done to smoothen the teeth’ surface.
Final Words
Black stains on the teeth are not developed within a day. This process happens with the passing of time. However, maintaining proper oral hygiene can prevent this condition to a great extent.