---
title: "What Is Tooth discoloration? Dental Glossary | Town Center Dental"
description: "Tooth discoloration is a change in the color of a tooth, such as yellow, brown, gray or dark spots. Stains, trauma, medicines and age can all play a part."
url: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/tooth-discoloration
publisher: Town Center Dental
phone: +1-636-273-5866
quote: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment
---

Conditions

# Tooth discoloration

Tooth discoloration is a change in the color of a tooth, such as yellow, brown, gray or dark spots. Stains, trauma, medicines and age can all play a part.

Tooth discoloration is when the color of your teeth changes. It refers to staining or darkening. There are two main types. Extrinsic stains affect the outer surface of the tooth, the [enamel](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/enamel). Intrinsic discoloration comes from inside the tooth.

Causes include dark foods and drinks such as coffee, tea, berries and red wine, tobacco use, and dental trauma. Certain medicines, aging and cavities can also change tooth color. A single tooth that turns dark may signal a problem inside it, so it should be checked.

What helps depends on the cause. Options may include a professional cleaning, [teeth whitening](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/teeth-whitening), [bonding](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-bonding) or veneers. Our office describes whitening on its [teeth whitening page](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/services/teeth-whitening). Ask your dentist what fits your teeth.

[Town Center Dental can helpTeeth Whitening](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/services/teeth-whitening)

## Related terms

-   [Teeth whitening](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/teeth-whitening)
-   [Dental veneers](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-veneers)
-   [Dental bonding](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-bonding)
-   [Enamel](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/enamel)
-   [Dental fluorosis](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-fluorosis)

## Sources

1.  [Cleveland Clinic: Tooth Discoloration: Causes & Treatment](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/10958-tooth-discoloration)
2.  [Cleveland Clinic: Tooth Discoloration: Causes & Treatment](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/10958-tooth-discoloration)

## Ready when you are

[Request an appointment](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment)[Call (636) 273-5866](tel:+1-636-273-5866)