Brown spots on the teeth can occur for several reasons.
This article will discuss the causes of brown spots, treatment options, and how to prevent them.
It will also cover when to contact a healthcare provider.
Charday Penn / Getty Images
Charday Penn / Getty Images
What Causes Brown Spots on Teeth?
Below are the causes and how the spots occur.
Nicotine
Nicotineis the addictive drug in tobacco.
A study from 2023 found thatcigarettesmoking is a common cause of tooth staining.
Food and Beverages
Foods and drinks that are highly pigmented can cause brown stains on the teeth.
Two common culprits of brown stains arecoffeeandtea.
The tannins in coffee will stick to the tooth enamel, causing it to stain.
Tartar
Tartaris hardened dentalplaqueon the teeth.
It forms both above and below the gumline.
Tartar can appear as yellow, brown, or black stains on the teeth.
Fluorosis
Fluorosisis brought on by ingesting too muchfluoridetoo early in life.
This results in hypomineralization.
In mild cases, it appears as white streaks on the teeth.
But more severe cases will present as brown discoloration on the teeth.
Enamel Hypoplasia
Dental enamelis the hard, outer covering of the teeth.
It protects the teeth from hard biting and chewing.
Enamelhypoplasiais a congenital condition in which the enamel does not form properly and is either too thin or absent.
It can affect an entire tooth or just part of a tooth.
Root Canal
Aroot canalis a dental procedure used when thetooth pulpbecomes infected or inflamed.
This may be from tooth decay, a crack or chip, or injury to the tooth.
After a root canal, a tooth can become brown or black from bleeding inside of the tooth.
Trauma
Tooth traumais a common dental injury, especially in younger children.
Recovery will vary based on the severity of thetooth trauma.
They may appear darker or brown from dark drinks like coffee or red wine.
Medications
Certain medications can change the color of teeth.
The most commonly known medication to cause teeth discoloration istetracycline.
Tetracycline is a broad-spectrumantibioticused to treat many types of bacterial infections.
The medication can bind to the calcium in the teeth causing it to become discolored.
Chlorhexidine Mouthwash
Chlorhexidinemouthwashhas been used to treatperiodontitis.
Chlorhexidine is both an antiseptic and disinfectant.
People with this condition also have weaker teeth that are more likely to break and wear down quickly.
The condition affects bothbabyand permanent teeth.
Aging
As peopleage, they become more likely to have discoloration on their teeth.
This is due to the natural process of enamel becoming thinner and more translucent withage.
When the enamel is thin and translucent, the yellowed dentin color appears.
The condition can cause tooth discoloration of yellow, white, or brown spots on the teeth.
This is due to poor enamel development or translucent appearing teeth.
A dentist will evaluate the teeth and determine the cause and suggest the best treatment plan.
The spots may be able to be treated with home treatment or they may need professional treatment.
If whitening products cannot lift the brown spots, a veneer may be recommended to cover the tooth.
Whatever the cause, a healthcare provider can evaluate the teeth and discoloration and determine the best treatment plan.
Summary
Brown spots on the teeth are often due to tartar or tooth decay.
However, they may develop due to medical conditions or poor enamel development.
If a brown spot develops on your teeth, contact a healthcare provider for an evaluation and treatment plan.
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