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Brown spots on teeth. Do you need to worry about it?

Brown spots on teeth. Do you need to worry about it?

Everyone loves a bright and beautiful smile. It enhances the personality and confidence. However, visible or subtle spots/lines of yellow or brown color appear on teeth due to poor oral hygiene. These could be in form of fine lines or patches/spots of yellow or brown color. Such conditions represent underlying oral health problems that may result in tooth decay and may also be an indicator of other diseases like celiac disease. Practicing good oral hygiene and taking a balanced diet may help you to avoid tooth decay and manage good health.

Types of tooth spots

Extrinsic tooth spots: extrinsic tooth spots appear due to the porous nature of teeth. These are developed because of dark or acidic food that can penetrate the enamel of teeth. Extrinsic stains result in dull, yellow, or brown appearance of teeth. Such spots are also common among smokers or tobacco consumers.

Intrinsic tooth spots:  such spots appear due to genetic and environmental factors. Medical conditions and underlying oral health are also important factors of intrinsic tooth spots.

Causes of brown spots on teeth

There are several potential causes of brown spots. However, the main causes are enlisted below:

Poor Oral Hygiene

Poor oral hygiene is the root cause of most dental diseases. This may lead to damage of enamel, pulp, or connective tissue and nerves and result in discoloration or browning of teeth.

Dental Plaque and Tartar

When plaque is not removed it turned into tartar and becomes even more difficult to remove while brushing. Tartar causes yellow or brown spots above the gum line and below the gum line it causes brown or black spots. Tartar may also cause dental problems including gum recession.

Staining and acidic foods/drinks

Foods and drinks play important role in the staining of teeth. Sugary and acidic foods/drinks cause discoloration of teeth whereas other drinks like coffee and tea cause yellow staining of teeth. Smoking and tobacco consumption also cause brown spots due to presence of nicotine.

Fluorosis

Fluoride strengthens tooth enamel and protects teeth. However, access to everything is bad, and so is fluoride. Access exposure to fluoride leads to fluorosis which results in white marks on teeth and may also develop pits and brown spots in rare cases. Fluorosis is common in kids with baby teeth.

Enamel Hypoplasia

Enamel hypoplasia is a dental condition in which teeth have less enamel than they need. This occurs due to genetic or environmental factors. It may also cause due to vitamin deficiencies, malnutrition, toxins, and other factors. Enamel hypoplasia may occur in one or more teeth and appear as spots on teeth.

Root canal

Teeth that have dead pulp and require a root canal turn brown.

Trauma

Trauma to your mouth can also damage teeth nerves and turn it brown.

Dental treatments

Dental treatments such as fillings can also turn brown over time.

Medications

Some medicines tetracycline, doxycycline, and glibenclamide can also turn teeth brown. This mostly occurs in kids having developing teeth. Some mouthwash with chlorhexidine used to treat gum diseases can also cause teeth staining.

Celiac disease

Tooth discoloration, white, yellow, or brown spots, poorly developed enamel, pit formation and translucent-looking teeth may occur due to celiac diseases.

Aging

Spots on teeth are also common in elderly people. As people, age enamel starts thinning, and dentin starts darkening which results in a yellowish or brown appearance of teeth. In addition, elderly people also take various medicines which may also contribute to the staining of teeth.

Genetics

Tooth color may be genetic and varies from person to person. Some have pearly white color, others may have yellowish teeth. Moreover, some genetic disorders such as dentinogenesis may also be a cause of brown spots on teeth.

Spots on teeth may be an early sign of cavities and gingivitis. To reduce the risk of brown spots following are common steps to consider.

  • Brushing and flossing – brush and floss your teeth thoroughly twice a day after meal
  • Swash – thoroughly swash your mouth after every meal and drink
  • Balanced diet – avoid staining foods and drinks
  • Calcium-rich foods – take calcium-rich foods that help maintain enamel
  • Avoid tobacco consumption – avoid nicotine consumption in all forms
  • Dental cleanings – suggested professional dental cleaning as prescribed by the dentist
  • Dental checkups – visit your dentist every six months

Effective brushing and flossing are the main steps to avoid dental problems. Thus, choosing the right toothbrush that cleans teeth effectively and thoroughly is quite crucial. Protector® Toothbrushes have a built-in antiviral and antibacterial feature that keeps the toothbrush safe from viruses, bacteria, and microbes and helps to maintain good oral hygiene. Moreover, Protector® Toothbrushes have specially designed head that cleans hard-to-reach areas more effectively, its DuPont Tynex StaClean® Antimicrobial bristles clean more efficiently and keep bacteria & microbes away.

 Protector® – keeps your teeth safer, healthier & stronger and gives you a brighter smile.

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