What To Do About Brown Spots On Teeth?

The sight of yellow teeth can be distressing enough for many, but seeing brown spots on the teeth can be even more disconcerting. Such discolouration can make anyone feel less confident in their smile, but instead of focusing on hiding your teeth, it’s important that you find out the underlying cause of this browning. The reason for this is that it may be an indication of an underlying health issue.

What Causes Brown Spots On Teeth?

Some of the causes of brown discolouration of the teeth are as follows:

Dental Fluorosis

While fluoride helps strengthen the enamel and prevent tooth decay, consumption of too much fluoride can cause dental fluorosis. The main symptom of this condition is tooth discolouration, which can vary depending on the severity of the problem.

If it’s mild, you might notice white spots or streaks on your teeth. In moderate to severe cases, the colour of the spots can be dark, grey, yellow or brown. In severe cases, even pits can form on the surface of the enamel.

Cavities

Tooth decay can progress in different stages, and the colour of the decay can change depending on where it is in the process. Initially, white spots can appear on the teeth, which can then turn brown (also forming cavities). In the more advanced stages, the discolouration can take on a darker tone, becoming more brown and black.

Enamel Hypoplasia

Enamel hypoplasia is a condition that results in defective enamel. It can occur due to a number of reasons, including genetics, issues before childbirth, and even certain environmental factors (e.g. nutritional deficiency, trauma, infection, etc.). One of the consequences of this condition is the development of white spot lesions or brown, orange or yellow stains on the teeth.

Dentinogenesis Imperfecta

Dentinogenesis imperfecta is a genetic disorder that affects the development of the tooth. Not only does this condition make the teeth weak, but it also affects their colour. Such teeth can be translucent or have a blue-grey or yellow-brown colour.

Chlorhexidine

Chlorhexidine mouthwash has many uses, including managing gum disease, reducing dental plaque, preventing caries, minimising bad breath and helping mouth ulcers heal more quickly. However, one of the side effects of this mouthwash is brown staining of the teeth (and tongue).

Tobacco

The consumption of tobacco can be deleterious for the teeth in a number of ways. It can cause tooth decay, gum disease, as well as cancer. It can also affect the appearance of your teeth by discolouring them with brown, black or yellow stains.

Tartar

If not removed, dental plaque can harden into what’s known as tartar. The deposits can not only cause bad breath, gum disease and cavities, but they can also cause discolouration with their yellow, green, brown or black colour.

Vitamin D Deficiency

Vitamin D is important for the health of your teeth. Its deficiency has been reported to increase the risk of gum disease and is also linked to the development of tooth cavities. Lack of vitamin D as can happen in rickets can also cause brown discolouration of the teeth.

Swimming

It’s not the swimming itself that can stain your teeth brown, but what’s present in the water you’re swimming in. Known as the swimmer’s calculus, it can occur due to antimicrobials in the water breaking down the salivary proteins, per a study published in The Canadian Journal of Dental Hygiene. Brown-coloured deposits of tartar (hardened plaque) can be seen on the teeth.

Craze Lines

While not exactly spots, craze lines are hairline fractures in the enamel. They’re benign and don’t weaken the tooth, but they can cause aesthetic issues due to their yellow, grey or brown colour.

Food Dyes

Depending on the kinds of foods you eat, they too can be the culprit behind the brown stains on your teeth. If you’re a heavy tea and/or coffee drinker, you might notice brown stains appear on your teeth. Of course, this isn’t something that develops with just one cup of either beverage, but over time the tannins in them can cause discolouration.

Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is a digestive disorder that is triggered by gluten. While it may seem to have nothing to do with your teeth, this isn’t the case. As this condition can also affect the enamel on your teeth, they can experience discolouration, resulting in the formation of brown, white or yellow spots on them.

Certain Medication

Tetracycline is a drug that has been known to stain teeth. It’s an antibiotic that’s used for the treatment of bacterial infections, but discolouration of the teeth is one of its side effects. It can change the colour of the teeth to yellow, grey or brown.

Additionally, an analysis published in Frontiers in Pharmacology reported that brown teeth discolouration occurs due to another antibiotic linezolid and “brown to black” staining on the intake of iron supplements. Rifampicin, another antibiotic used in the treatment of tuberculosis, can also make the colour of the teeth brown-red or orange.

Can Brushing Remove Brown Spots On Teeth?

Whether or not brushing can remove brown stains from your teeth will depend on the cause of the stain itself. Brushing can help keep your teeth clean, but if your brown spots are the result of, for instance, fluorosis, cavities, tartar, or medication like tetracycline, unfortunately, simply brushing the teeth is not going to help you. You need to seek the help of a dental professional for this.

Can Brown Tooth Decay Be Reversed?

Darker brown tooth decay is typically a sign of advanced stages of tooth decay, in which cases it is unlikely that you’ll be able to reverse it. That is not to say that dental decay cannot be reversed at all. In the very early stages, it is possible to do so.

How To Get Rid Of Brown Spots On Teeth?

The treatment for the brown spots on your teeth will depend on the underlying cause of the problem. Here are some of the potential treatments:

• Enamel microabrasion
• Teeth whitening
• Resin infiltration
• Scaling and root planing
• Composite bonding
• Dental veneers
• Dental crowns

Of course, depending on your needs, your doctor might have other inclusions in your treatment plan. Make sure you find an experienced and qualified dental professional.

It’s also important that you maintain good oral hygiene and where possible, avoid the potential causes of brown stains on teeth (e.g. smoking).

Conclusion

Brown spots can form on the teeth for a number of reasons, and in some cases, it is possible for you to prevent their formation through proper brushing and flossing your teeth while having a healthy diet. In any case, if you do have them, you must consult your dentist about them.

Reviewed and approved by Dr Izbel Aksit

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