Stained Teeth

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COLOUR OF NATURAL HEALTHY TEETH Add a caption Teeth are composed of a surface enamel layer, which is whiter and semitransparent, and an underlying dentin layer, which is darker and less transparent. The colour of teeth varies among the gum, tip and central areas according to the thickness, reflectance of different colours and translucency in enamel and dentin. The colour of healthy teeth is primarily determined by the dentin and is modified by: 1. The colour of the enamel 2. The translucency of the enamel 3. The thickness of the enamel. TOOTH STAINS Stained teeth Stained teeth Tooth stains are one of the most common problems. People of various ages may be affected, and it can occur in both primary (milk) and secondary (permanent) teeth. …show more content…

TYPES OF STAINS There are two types of stains: extrinsic or intrinsic. Extrinsic- occurs when an external agent stains or damages the enamel surface of teeth. Can be easily removed by prophylaxis (tooth cleaning). Intrinsic- occurs when internal tooth structure is penetrated by a discoloring agent. These stains cannot be removed by prophylaxis, some of them can be removed by bleaching. CAUSES OF TOOTH STAINS Extrinsic stains Plaque Calculus (tartar) Bacteria Smoking Tobacco and tobacco products Betel nut (supari) Mouthwashes, e.g. chlorhexidine, Beverages (tea, coffee, red wine, cola) Foods (curry, cooking oils and fried foods, foods with colorings, berries, beetroot) Dietary precipitate Antibiotics (erythromycin, amoxicillins) Iron supplements Intrinsic stains Disease: - Haematological diseases - Liver diseases - Diseases of enamel and dentin Medication: - Tetracycline stains - Other antibiotics

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