Bright white teeth
Brighter teeth usually require stain removal or whitening, while the right method depends on enamel, fillings, crowns, gum health, and the cause of colo...
The short answer
Brighter teeth usually require stain removal or whitening, while the right method depends on enamel, fillings, crowns, gum health, and the cause of colour change.
What is the direct answer?
What does this question mean?
External stains sit on enamel and can come from food, drinks, tobacco, or plaque. Internal colour comes from changes within dentine or enamel, and restorations such as crowns and fillings do not change colour when natural teeth are whitened.
What can you do next?
Have the cause of discolouration assessed before choosing a product. A dental cleaning can remove surface deposits, while peroxide whitening changes some natural tooth colour; brushing with fluoride toothpaste and limiting staining exposures helps maintain the result.
When should you seek dental care?
See a dentist for one dark tooth, pain, sensitivity, gum irritation, or colour change after trauma. Whitening should wait until decay, cracked teeth, leaking restorations, or gum inflammation are evaluated.
What should you ask the dentist?
Ask whether the colour is external or internal, whether existing restorations will match afterward, which whitening method fits your teeth, and how sensitivity will be managed.
Frequently asked questions
Can this problem have more than one cause?
Yes. An examination distinguishes tooth, gum, bite, medication, and general-health causes that can look similar.
What will the dentist check?
The dentist will inspect the area, test nearby teeth and gums, and use imaging or other tests when the findings require them.