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As we age, the outer layer of enamel on our teeth wears away, revealing a darker tissue underneath, at the center of the tooth around the nerves and blood vessels. Smoking, drinking coffee, tea, and wine, and even taking certain medications as a child such as tetracycline also contribute to loss of brightness in your teeth.

Normally, our mouths cover tooth enamel with a clear colorless, yet sticky, layer of protein known as pellicle. But food stains stick to this protein, ruining our white smiles. Known culprits include soy sauce, berries, curry, coffee, red wine, and tea. These foods easily stain teeth. Extremely hot or cold liquids are especially harmful to the whiteness of your teeth, because they change the temperature of your teeth. This expansion and contraction allows stains to more easily penetrate your teeth. Foods that are slightly acidic open up the pores of the tooth enamel, allowing stains to more easily move into your teeth.

There are two types of tooth stains: Intrinsic (internal stain) and extrinsic (external stain).

Intrinsic stains occur from within the tooth, and cannot be removed by brushing and flossing; bleaching may also not be effective. Some causes of intrinsic staining occur from tooth injury, certain medications such as tetracycline, or an excess fluoride ingested during the formation of teeth.

Extrinsic stains usually only involve the tooth surface. Common sources of extrinsic stains include cigarettes, cigars, coffee, tea, or foods that contain a lot of spices. This type of staining can sometimes be removed by good oral hygiene or professional cleaning.

Teeth whitening can restore your teeth to their earlier brightness. There are a number of options today, so take care in choosing the right one for you.

Whitening toothpastes can help remove surface stains through the action of mild abrasives. Some whitening toothpastes have special chemical or polishing agents that provide additional stain removal, but unlike bleaches, don't change the color of your teeth. Whiteners may not correct all types of discoloration. For example, yellow teeth will probably bleach well, while brownish-colored teeth may bleach less well, and grayish teeth may not bleach well at all. In addition, bleaching or whiteneing may not be effective if you have had bonding or tooth-colored fillings placed in your front teeth. In such cases, you may want to consider porcelain veneers or dental bonding.

Teeth bleaching safely lightens the color of your teeth, and can last up to five years. The most effective and safest method of tooth bleaching is that performed by your dentist.

In general, bleaching works for most people. Tooth bleaching is most effective if your teeth are darkened from age, coffee, tea or smoking. Teeth darkened with the color of yellow, brown or orange respond better to lightening. Other types of gray stains caused by fluorosis, smoking or tetracycline can be lightened, but satisfactory results may be more difficult to achieve.

If you're interested in brightening your smile, have your teeth evaluated by your dentist. Not everyone is a good candidate for bleaching. In some cases of serious discoloration and pitted teeth, for example, veneers may be more appropriate than bleaching. Moreoever, crowns, bridges, and fillings do not bleach, so it may be necessary to replace dental work to make it blend with the new color of your bleached teeth. An X-ray of your teeth may be the only accurate way of making a true assessment.

The whitening process could cause you a lot of pain down the road if you have receding gums. Occasionally, people experience some sensitivity in their teeth and gums during the bleaching process. A Journal of the American Dental Association study recently found that 50% of people experience temporary tooth sensitivity as a result of home whitening treatment. Don't try to get your teeth too white, because you may have trouble matching new fillings later on.

Stained, discolored, or dull-looking teeth

Often, people with stained or discolored teeth may just need a whitening procedure in order to restore their smile.

People with stained or dull teeth usually benefit from whitening, which is a safe and effective way to brighten stained, discolored or dull teeth. Even a stubborn single tooth that is noticeably duller or less white than your other teeth can be individually brightened.

In-office and supervised at-home whitening systems are available. At-home systems should be individually fitted and monitored.

Bleaching

There are basically two kinds of teeth whitening: bleaching and non-bleaching products.

Non-bleaching products, many of which are available over the counter, work by physical or chemical action to help remove surface stains only.

Teeth bleaching products, which contain peroxides, actually changes your natural tooth color anywhere from five to seven -- but even up to twelve -- shades brighter.

One process known as chairside bleaching involves applying either a protective gel to your gums or a rubber shield to protect the soft tissues in the mouth. A bleaching agent is then applied to the teeth, and a special light is used to enhance the chemical action.

If your teeth aren't very dark or very stained, you may need only one bleaching session. Some tooth-whitening systems are available for home use. These usually use a gel that is placed in a custom-fitted mouth guard formed from a mold of your teeth. The guard is typically worn either twice a day for 30 minutes or overnight for two to three weeks. The length of time can range from one week to one month depending on how much whitening you need. Over-the-counter products are less expensive but will not brighten your teeth as much as professional products.