A discolored tooth can be disconcerting, especially if it stands out in stark contrast to the rest of the teeth. If you’re wondering what causes one dark or yellow tooth, we’ll look at the usual suspects.

What Causes Discoloration?

Most people may think that discoloration can be traced back to items like blueberries, red wine, nicotine or coffee. However, if you have discoloration due to external stains, you’ll usually see it across your teeth as opposed to one or two discolored teeth. Single-tooth discoloration may be due to a loss of enamel, tooth decay, infection, or injury.

A Closer Look at Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening services are for external stains on otherwise healthy teeth, otherwise known as standard cosmetic dentistry in Hackensack. While they cannot treat all staining, particularly if your enamel has weakened over time, these treatments are remarkably effective at lightening teeth and removing (sometimes years) of built-up staining.

If you have internal staining, you’ll need to see a dentist in Hackensack, NJ to treat the tooth first. Some root causes, like severe infection or physical trauma, will present with evident symptoms (e.g., fever, pain). However, not all internal stains will be as easy to self-diagnose.

Why Seek Cosmetic Dental Treatment

No matter the cause of the discoloration, you can find a treatment that works for you. From bonding to veneers to whitening agents, there are multiple options to give you a movie star glow. When you brighten up your smile, it’s more than just a confidence booster — it’s a reason to take care of the rest of your chompers.

If you have questions about a discolored tooth or about teeth whitening, contact State Street Smiles to learn more about our general and cosmetic treatments.