There are two types of stain: surface and intrinsic (deep) staining.
Surface stains
These are mainly caused by over-indulgence in tea, coffee, red wine and cigarettes. The stains attach themselves to the pellicle (a thin layer of protein from saliva that forms on your teeth every day) or take hold in the pores of tooth enamel.
Intrinsic stains
These are changes in the structure of the tooth itself. There are four common causes:
- Ageing Wear and tear thins the outer enamel - the dentine layer below then begins to show through, making the teeth appear yellow.
- Fluorosis If children swallow too much fluoride toothpaste when their teeth are developing there's some risk they'll develop 'fluorosis' or surface mottling on the teeth.
- Antibiotics Tetracycline and other antibiotics can stain developing teeth blue-grey.
- Root canal work A single tooth can sometimes darken following this procedure.
Dentists use a shade guide (pictured above) to measure changes in tooth colour. One dental treatment claims to whiten your teeth by 8 shades.
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