Plaque will accumulate and stick to the surface of teeth, damaging them over time. If not treated, this plaque may destroy a tooth's enamel and turn it brown. A top reason you see your teeth turning brown is due to staining from the food and beverages you enjoy consuming.
Certain illnesses
Some medical conditions may impact the tooth enamel, which can lead to changes in the color of your teeth. These conditions include metabolic diseases, calcium deficiency, liver disease, rickets, eating disorders, and celiac disease.
Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Vitamin B12 plays an essential role in teeth and gum health. It helps you eliminate the bacteria that cause plaque buildup, leading to discolored teeth over time. If you have tooth stains or your gums appear redder than usual, it could be due to a lack of vitamin B12.
Early childhood liver disease such as biliary atresia can cause discoloration of the developing permanent teeth [23,24]. In addition, increased bilirubin levels in cholestasis can result in greyish-green discoloration of the dentinal layer of the dental hard tissues.
If you received the common antibiotics doxycycline or tetracycline as a child, your teeth may have discolored as a consequence. Antihistamines, high blood pressure medications, and antipsychotic drugs can also discolor teeth.
Regular ingestion of berries, coffee, red wine, and cola can all cause teeth staining. Sometimes, even prescription medications and fluoride can cause staining. Even if you brush your teeth daily, your teeth will likely stain over time if you regularly consume dark-colored substances.
Staining of the enamel is not permanent and can be easily reversed with treatments through professional stain removal and tooth whitening. Steer away from home remedies. Often these products are abrasive and can scratch the enamel making them more susceptible to staining - such as whitening toothpastes.
Tooth decay
When layers of enamel start to get worn away by the bacteria that is present in the mouth, it can form cavities. The resulting decay can end up turning a brownish colour. These will show up as spots of brown in and around the front and back of the teeth.
On almost any surface, a thin layer of bacteria known as biofilm can stick. That's why your gums and teeth feel like they've been covered in slime when you wake up in the morning. Biofilm is normal and happens to everyone—even if you brush, floss and rinse with an antibacterial mouthwash.
Porcelain Veneers and Dental Bonding
Not only do veneers cover up brown spots, but they can also correct teeth that are crooked, chipped, or have suffered decay. Another professional solution to brown spots on teeth is cosmetic bonding, which involves fusing material to a tooth's enamel to alter its shape and color.
Tartar is the hard substance that results from plaque buildup on the teeth and can make the teeth appear brown or yellow. Tarter begins to appear near the gum line and must be removed by a dental professional.
Stain removal can be achieved during a routine hygiene appointment where the teeth are cleaned with an ultrasonic scaler and hand instruments to remove plaque deposits.
Even with daily brushing, certain foods and drinks can cause stained teeth. For example, frequently drinking coffee, tea and wine can all lead to yellow teeth. In addition, even regular brushing cannot always combat yellow teeth caused by smoking cigarettes.
Baking Soda & Water
If you're sure that the staining is caused by the foods or beverages you're consuming, there's a simple home remedy that can often help whiten them again. Mix baking soda and water, and brush your teeth with it every few days to supplement your typical oral care routine.
Baking soda is good for teeth whitening because it is a very mild abrasive, which helps remove stains from the surface of your teeth. In addition, baking soda is alkaline and salty, which helps lighten acid-based food stains – such as those from coffee, tea, and red wine – on teeth.
Reduces Acidity and Plaque
As such, baking soda not only prevents tooth decay but also helps remineralize your enamel. Baking soda can also limit plaque buildup by neutralizing plaque acids. Many kinds of toothpaste contain baking soda to help clean teeth more effectively and protect against plaque.
Why Does Coffee Stain My Teeth? While the enamel on your teeth is the hardest substance in the human body, it does have tiny pores. When you drink coffee, the tannins in the brew seep into those pores, leaving deep stains behind. As coffee is acidic, it can also wear the enamel away over time, leading to more stains.
If discoloration is caused by tartar or medical conditions, a person may need to visit a dentist. A dentist or dental hygienist will use instruments to scrape, blast, or rub tartar and plaque away from teeth. A dentist may also perform minor procedures to whiten the teeth and protect them from further decay.
For example, scraping the brown spots from the teeth should only be done by a dental professional. If not done professionally, the scraping might even cause further damage to the tooth's enamel (and thereby introduce new sites for food debris and bacteria to accumulate).