Teeth naturally range from white to yellowish-white. MedlinePlus, from the National Library of Medicine, defines abnormal tooth color as any color outside that range. Discoloration can be temporary or permanent, affect one tooth or many, and show as overall color change or spots and lines. The cause determines what will help.
Common causes
MedlinePlus lists:
- Staining foods and drinks, such as tea, coffee, red wine or iron-containing liquids (usually temporary)
- Smoking and chewing tobacco. See smoking, vaping and oral health.
- Poor oral care
- Tooth nerve damage, which can discolor a single tooth
- Tetracycline antibiotic use before age 8
- Too much fluoride while teeth form, from naturally high water fluoride or swallowing rinses, toothpaste or high amounts of supplements. This is called dental fluorosis.
- High fever at an age when teeth are forming
- Genetic enamel defects (such as amelogenesis or dentinogenesis imperfecta), porphyria and severe newborn jaundice
MedlinePlus adds that your genes affect tooth color. Medicines or drugs taken by a mother during pregnancy, or by a child while teeth develop, can change the color and hardness of enamel.
When a spot could be decay
Not every color change is a stain. The NIDCR lists white, brown or black staining among the signs of tooth decay. A chalky white spot can mean early mineral loss, which the NIDCR says can be stopped or reversed with fluoride before a cavity forms. A dentist can check for soft or sticky areas or take an X-ray. See our tooth decay guide.
What helps
- Surface and diet stains: MedlinePlus says good oral hygiene helps, and stains may be removed with proper hygiene or teeth-whitening systems. See teeth whitening options.
- Deeper discoloration: may need masking with fillings, veneers or crowns, according to MedlinePlus. See veneers vs bonding vs crowns.
Preventing new discoloration
Several causes above are habits you can change. These steps come from MedlinePlus’s list of causes and the NIDCR’s decay-prevention tips:
- Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and clean between teeth daily. MedlinePlus lists poor oral care as a cause of discoloration.
- Don’t use tobacco, including smokeless tobacco. Both smoking and chewing tobacco are on MedlinePlus’s list.
- Cut down on sugary drinks and snacks to lower the risk of decay spots, the NIDCR advises.
- Get regular checkups and professional cleanings, which the NIDCR recommends.
- For young children, use the right amount of fluoride toothpaste to avoid fluorosis, and ask a doctor about medicines while teeth are forming.
MedlinePlus says stains from tea, coffee and red wine are usually temporary and respond to good hygiene.
When to see a dentist
MedlinePlus advises contacting a provider if teeth are an abnormal color without an apparent cause, or if discoloration lasts after cleaning well. If it seems related to a medical condition, see your regular health care provider too.
What the dentist will ask
Expect questions about when it began, diet, medicines, personal and family health history, fluoride exposure and brushing habits. X-rays may be taken. Testing is often unnecessary unless a medical cause is suspected.
Frequently asked questions
Will whitening fix every kind of discoloration?
No. MedlinePlus says diet-related and surface stains may respond to hygiene or whitening, but more severe discoloration may need fillings, veneers or crowns.
Why is just one tooth darker?
Tooth nerve damage is one cause MedlinePlus lists. Have a dentist check it.
Is a brown or white spot always a stain?
No. The NIDCR says white, brown or black staining can be a sign of decay, so have a dentist look at new spots.
Can antibiotics stain teeth?
MedlinePlus lists tetracycline use before age 8 as a cause.
Sources
By the Dentist Review Editorial Team.
This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. Talk to a licensed dentist about your own situation. See our disclaimer.
Featured image: “InferiorTeeth” by Roquex, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed CC0. Resized and compressed for the web.
Our guides are written and reviewed by the Dentist Review editorial team. We research each topic using public, authoritative sources such as the CDC, the National Institutes of Health (NIH/NIDCR), the American Dental Association (ADA) and CMS, and we update guides when guidance changes. Guides are for general information only and are not dental or medical advice; please read our disclaimer and learn more about us.