If you are conscious about the way you look, you would definitely want to know how to get rid of brown stains on teeth so that you can have a beautiful smile.
It is very common to get brown-colored spots on your teeth. You can take some measures to prevent them or to get them removes through dental treatment.
These spots vary in their appearance, color, and size. They could be yellow to brown and might even appear black in some people.
The appearance is patchy or blotchy in most cases, while some people might only have brown lines on their teeth. No matter what the color or appearance is, you would want to know how to get rid of these stains.
Before we get into the treatment method, let us give you a brief overview of how these stains are formed.
Causes of Brown Stains on Teeth
The appearance of these spots depends on your dietary habits and lifestyle. There are many reasons for the formation of brown spots on your teeth.
Food and Beverages
The most common reason for the formation of these spots is the food you eat and the beverages you drink. Dark-colored foods are more likely to cause stains as they contain chromogens.
If you are continuously eating these foods or drinking these beverages, the stains become permanent. On top of that, if your dental hygiene is improper, the stains will toughen.
Processed foods often contain artificial colors, and they can also stain your teeth.
Wine
If you drink too much wine, you might develop brown discoloration on your teeth. Wine contains a compound called tannic acid. It discolors your teeth over time if your dental hygiene is poor.
Smoking
Anything that contains tobacco and nicotine has particles that stick to the tooth enamel. They build there over the period of time and end up staining your teeth.
If you do not try to remove these stains in the earlier stage, they become extremely hard to remove after some years.
Trauma
If your mouth or a specific tooth has been under trauma, it can get completely brown due to extensive nerve damage.
Tartar
The biggest culprit for forming brown stains is tartar. When bacteria in your mouth mix with saliva and break down food particles, they form a sticky material called plaque.
If you maintain your dental hygiene, you can control the buildup of plaque. However, if you have poor oral hygiene, plaque builds over time and becomes harder. This hardened version is called tartar.
It is almost impossible to remove tartar at home fully and only a dental professional can clean your teeth.
There is a lot of other reason such as aging, celiac disease, previous dental treatment and even hormones. No matter what the cause is, your focus should be on the treatment.
How to Remove Brown Stains from Teeth?
There are many home remedies that you can use for removing brown stains from your teeth. Let us clear something here before we jump into the remedies.
Some people might see black spots on teeth that aren’t cavities. You should not use these remedies for those spots and should consult a dentist regarding them.
Baking Soda
The best way to remove or lighten brown spots on your teeth is to use baking soda. You must have seen it in a lot of home remedies, and that is because it surely works.
Mix baking soda and water to make a paste for brushing your teeth. Apply this to your toothbrush and brush your teeth with it. Make a habit of brushing your teeth every few days with this paste.
Hydrogen Peroxide
You can use hydrogen peroxide as a mouthwash to keep the brown stains away. Make a diluted solution of hydrogen peroxide with water and rinse your mouth with it every few days.
Rinse your mouth with water afterward.
Over-the-counter Treatments
There are some over-the-counter treatments that you can use if you do not want to or are unable to get a prescription. Some of these include:
- Whitening strips
- Whitening mouthwashes
- Whitening toothpaste
- Whitening trays
All of these whitening treatments have peroxide of hypochlorite in them as they help in washing away the brown spots. However, there is no guarantee that these treatments will 100% work.
If the discoloration on your teeth is due to visible plaque or tartar, you need to visit your dentist as tartar cannot be easily removed at home.
Dentists have special equipment that they use for scraping away the tartar and revealing your white teeth underneath. Sometimes, a dental professional may perform a whitening procedure to ensure proper cleaning.
How to Hide Discoloration?
If the brown spots are extremely hard or stubborn to remove, your dentist will hide these spots using white composite fillings, crowns, and veneers.
How to Prevent Brown Stains?
The best thing to do is to prevent these stains from forming because once they form on your teeth, they are not so easy to remove. Here are a few things that you can do to prevent discoloration.
- Brush your teeth twice a day.
- If you drink coffee or tea daily, brush your teeth thoroughly and rinse your mouth with a fluoride-based mouthwash.
- Meals containing high sugar or artificial flavors can stain your teeth. Limit their consumption or brush your teeth about 30 minutes after eating such foods.
- Get your teeth checked by a dentist regularly.
- Use straws for drinking beverages so that the color does not stain your teeth.
- Do not use nicotine or tobacco products.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, it is up to you how you take care of your oral health. Keep in mind that everything goes into your body through your mouth. So, oral health is essential for overall bodily health.
You must have learned how to get rid of brown stains on teeth now. Prevention is always better than cure, so take preventive measures. If you already have such spots, get rid of them as early as possible so that they do not get stubborn.