A beautiful white smile looks attractive and healthy, but very people are blessed with naturally white teeth. Reasons for tooth discolouration fall into three distinct categories.
Extrinsic Discolouration
Extrinsic discolouration occurs when the outer part of the tooth, your tooth enamel becomes stained by lifestyle habits. For example, consuming highly coloured foods and drinks or smoking.
Intrinsic Discolouration
Intrinsic discolouration affects the inner part of the tooth called the dentine. Common causes of intrinsic discolouration include excessive exposure to fluoride during childhood while teeth are still developing or being prescribed tetracycline antibiotics during the latter half of pregnancy or in early childhood.
Age-Related Tooth Discolouration
This combines both intrinsic and extrinsic discolouration because, over time, your tooth enamel gradually thins. This allows dentine to show through and which contains the natural yellow or grey colour of your teeth. An injury to a tooth a tooth can also cause discolouration if it affects the dental pulp containing the tooth nerve.