What Causes Teeth Staining?
Understanding why teeth stain in the first place makes it easier to know what you can manage day to day, and what a professional treatment can help with.
Extrinsic Staining
Extrinsic stains sit on the outer surface of the tooth and are the most common type. They're generally caused by dark-coloured drinks like coffee, tea and red wine, by smoking or vaping, and by inadequate oral hygiene that allows surface build-up to accumulate.
Intrinsic Staining
Intrinsic stains sit within the tooth structure itself, rather than on the surface. Causes can include dental trauma, natural changes to enamel as we age, or certain medications. This is general, educational information only — if you're wondering what's causing staining in your specific case, that's a conversation for a consultation rather than something to self-diagnose.
Prevention Tips
Rinsing after staining foods and drinks and maintaining a consistent brushing and flossing routine are simple, effective everyday habits for managing extrinsic staining. If you smoke or vape and would like support cutting back, Quit Victoria (13 7848, quit.org.au) offers free, confidential advice.
Where Professional Cleaning and Whitening Can Help
A professional clean removes surface build-up that home brushing alone can't reach, which is a useful first step before whitening. From there, whitening treatment can address staining more directly — the right approach depends on your starting point, which a consultation can help clarify.