Brown spots on the teeth: causes and how to deal with them

Apart from being more pleasing to the eye, clean white teeth can also indicate a healthy body. This of course can be obtained if you maintain dental hygiene. If you are lazy to keep it clean, it is not impossible that your teeth that were pure white will change color. Brown spots on your teeth are one of the conditions that you can experience if you are not diligent in brushing your teeth. So what exactly is the specific cause of brown spots on teeth and how to deal with them?

Causes of brown spots on teeth

Brown spots on the teeth or sometimes look like patches of various shapes such as straight or irregular lines. This condition, apart from being caused by poor dental health, can also mark certain diseases. The following are various causes of brown spots on teeth:

1. Nicotine

Nicotine is commonly found in tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, and various other types of tobacco. Now the nicotine in tobacco is one of the causes of the appearance of stains on the surface of the teeth. As a result, you will often see people who are heavy smokers whose teeth will look duller in color and also stained.

2. Colored foods and drinks

Dark colored foods and drinks such as wine or coffee contain chemicals called chromogens. Over time, this chemical can stain tooth enamel (the outer protective layer of teeth). As a result, stains on the teeth can become permanent. Especially if you are not diligent in cleaning it every day. Therefore, make sure to keep brushing your teeth twice a day, in the morning and at night.

3. Plaque and tartar

Plaque comes from food debris that sticks and is not cleaned. Especially if you eat sugary foods, bacteria will produce acids that can damage tooth enamel. Plaque that is not cleaned for a long time causes it to harden over time until it forms tartar.

Usually, tartar gives teeth a yellow to brownish appearance. If you have this, you can no longer remove it with just a toothbrush but need to go to the doctor to be cleaned with special tools.

4. Tooth decay

When tooth enamel begins to erode, teeth are susceptible to decay. The plaque filled with bacteria continues to form and erode it. Acid formed from plaque also breaks down tooth enamel and results in brown stains and cavities.

Teeth can experience small holes that are not visible and allow bacteria to enter and cause decay. When the putrefaction begins, it is no longer a brown stain that is visible. However, black spots will appear on the edges of tooth fillings or crowns. Over time these small holes can become large and sensitive to hot food and drink.

5. Enamel hypoplasia

Enamel or enamel hypoplasia occurs due to tooth enamel deficiency and originates from genetic and environmental factors. Usually this condition is caused due to vitamin deficiency, nutritional deficiencies during pregnancy, exposure to toxins, and various other factors. As a result, the appearance of the teeth is not as white as other normal people and often coarse brown and yellow spots appear.

5. Aging

As we get older, the white enamel that protects the teeth gradually decreases. As a result, the yellow layer underneath began to show. This process is the reason why many parents have a duller tooth color, which is yellowish brown in color.

6. Celiac disease

Brown spots on teeth are sometimes caused by celiac disease. Apart from problems with dental hygiene, it turns out that these spots can appear due to celiac disease. Celiac disease is a condition when a person has more sensitivity to gluten or protein commonly found in flour. Now, brown spots on your teeth are one of the most common markers if you have celiac, especially in children.

How to get rid of brown spots on teeth?

The following are various ways that can be practiced to remove and prevent brown spots on teeth, namely:

Brush your teeth regularly

Quoted from Livestrong, Dr. Roger P. Levin, D.D.S., regular brushing can remove surface stains from your teeth. Using whitening toothpaste can also help remove surface stains if you apply it two to three times a day for several months.

Using baking soda

You can use the help of baking soda as a mixture to make a paste and apply it as a substitute for toothpaste. Do this two to three times a week for maximum results.

Using mouthwash

Another way to get rid of brown spots on your teeth is to rinse your mouth. You can use a hydrogen peroxide solution or an antibacterial mouthwash. This mouthwash is able to remove plaque and kill bacteria that cause tooth decay. Don't forget to rinse your mouth with water after using mouthwash.

Whiten teeth (bleaching)

If natural methods are not satisfactory, you can do a bleaching treatment at the dentist. This one method is fairly instant but still durable. The doctor will apply a stronger hydrogen-based gel. So that the stubborn stains in the tooth layer will be lifted and make it whiter and cleaner.