Tooth Discolouration

No special tests are needed. A dental professional can diagnose tooth discolouration by looking at the teeth.

Some tooth discolouration can be removed with professional cleaning, but many stains (intrinsic and age-related) are permanent unless the teeth are treated (whitened) with a bleaching gel.

Brushing your teeth with a whitening toothpaste can help to reduce stains. Dental professionals recommend that you rinse your mouth with water after having wine, coffee or other drinks or foods that can stain your teeth. Regular professional cleaning by a dental professional also will help to prevent surface stains.

Intrinsic stains that are caused by damage to a nerve or blood vessel in the inner part (the pulp) of a tooth sometimes can be prevented by having root canal treatment, which removes organic material before it has a chance to decay and darken. However, teeth that undergo root canal treatment may darken anyway. 

Discolouration often can be removed by applying a bleaching agent to the enamel of the teeth. A dental professional will apply bleaching gel that causes the teeth to get significantly whiter in about 30 to 45 minutes. Several follow-up treatments may be needed.

It's also possible to remove discolouration with an at-home bleaching gel and whitening trays given to you by your dental professional. The bleaching gels designed for use at home aren't as strong as those applied in the practice so the process can take longer — usually two to four weeks. Whitening toothpastes may remove minor stains and are good for maintenance.

If you've had a root canal treatment and the tooth has darkened, your dentist may apply a bleaching material to the inside of the tooth.

When a tooth has been chipped or badly damaged or when stains don't respond to bleaching, your dentist may recommend covering the discoloured areas. This can be done with a filling material that's colour-matched to the surrounding tooth. Another option is to get veneers, which are thin shells of ceramic that cover the outer surfaces of the teeth.

Tooth discolouration is mainly a cosmetic problem. Speak to your dental professional if you're unhappy with the appearance of your teeth. Any change in a child's normal tooth colour should be evaluated by a dental professional.

The prognosis is very good for extrinsic stains. Intrinsic stains may be more difficult or take longer to treat.