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Bleaching dark teeth - the causes of dark teeth

Americans want whiter teeth, and the popularity of tooth bleaching procedures continues to increase.

There are several reasons that teeth become dark and need bleaching. We'll list some of these causes here.

Some natural color is present in the teeth from birth. Baby teeth are naturally whiter than adult. When adult teeth begin to come in at around age six or seven, some parents are alarmed because they are darker than the ones they are replacing. This is normal.

When young children are given prescriptions for the antibiotic tetracycline, the tetracycline, which has an affinity for bone and tooth structure, will be incorporated into the developing teeth and will cause a permanent stain. Read more about tetracycline stains by clicking here.

And just like humans have different degrees of skin color from birth, so we also have different shades of tooth color.

Besides the natural tooth color you were born with, teeth can become darker over time. Tooth structure is porous and will absorb stains from your mouth. Here are some staining agents that are particularly troublesome for making your teeth dark:

	Tobacco is one of the nastiest tooth stains. Teeth will absorb a dark brown stain from tobacco, whether it is smoked or chewed, but chewing tobacco seems to stain more quickly.
	Coffee and tea also impart a brown stain to the teeth.
	Cola drinks will cause some staining of the teeth.
	Highly colored fruits also stain. Cherries, blueberries, grape juice, and other dark fruits have stains that will be absorbed by teeth.
	Licorice, soy sauce, and dark chocolate tend to stain, also.

The process of your teeth becoming darker is a long process where they absorb stains over many years.

Stains that are acquired through these staining agents listed above are some of the easiest to remove when you bleach your teeth. But even their natural color can be made whiter by bleaching.

Tetracycline stains can be lightened by bleaching, but these stains are very difficult to treat. The best way to whiten teeth with tetracycline stains is to do porcelain veneers with an expert cosmetic dentist.

When you bleach, your cosmetic dentist may advise you to change your diet or habits to avoid staining substances. However, if you touch up your bleaching once every year or two, you can maintain their bleached whiteness. Keep the bleaching tray you had when you originally bleached your teeth, and buy a refill every year or two, and use it until you've renewed their original whiteness.

Questions to answer in evaluating a patient prior to bleaching:

Name _______________________________________ Date_______________
A. What do you believe is the cause for your teeth being dark or discolored? ____________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________B. Have you ever been a tobacco user for more than 1 month? ___
If yes, please answer:
Type of tobacco _________________
Length of use: Began _________ Quit __________
If you are still using tobacco, how much do you use daily?_______ Cigarettes ______ Hours with pipe ______ Hours chewing ______ Do you ever smoke any other substance that might cause discoloration? ________

C. How much coffee or tea do you drink? ____________
How much cola beverage (Pepsi, etc.) do you drink per day? _______
Do you consider these products an essential part of your day? That is, would you have difficulty modifying this intake if it were determined that they were contributing to the discoloration of which you complain? _____ ________________________________________________________________________

D. Do you regularly consume any of the following foods? If so, please give information on how often and how much you consume:
Soy sauce: ____________________________________________________
Licorice: ______________________________________________________
Dark chocolate: ________________________________________________
Colored nuts, such as pistachios in the shell or betel nuts: _____________
Fresh cherries, blueberries, grape juice, or other highly pigmented fruits: _________________

E. Do you ever alternate rapidly between very hot and very cold drinks and foods, such as eating ice cream and drinking hot coffee at the same time? ___________
Do you chew ice? ___________
Do you bite your fingernails or consistently place hard objects, such as pins, nails, or bottles, between your teeth? ___________ __________________________________
Note: These behaviors can cause microcracks in the enamel, which, in turn, cause increased uptake of any staining agent.

F. Notes: