Discoloration, staining, and spots on your teeth can be caused by a wide range of factors, from diet and lifestyle habits to underlying dental health issues like enamel erosion or early decay. Because it’s not always easy to tell the difference between a harmless stain or spot and a sign of something more serious, routine oral care is crucial. Regular cleanings, professional evaluations, and good at-home habits not only improve the appearance of your teeth but also help catch and address potential problems early.
Dental Depot of Oklahoma offers comprehensive dental care for the entire family, making it easy to address everything from routine cleanings to more complex cosmetic or restorative needs. Whether you’re dealing with surface stains, white spots, or signs of decay, our team of experienced dentists, hygienists, and specialists can evaluate the cause and recommend the right treatment, whether it’s professional whitening, fillings, veneers, or crowns. With flexible scheduling, Saturday appointments, and multiple locations across Oklahoma, Dental Depot is committed to delivering high-quality care that is both accessible and affordable for patients of all ages.
For more than 20 years, Dental Depot has been committed to offering patients exceptional care through trusted partnerships and innovative solutions. That’s why we’re proud to partner with Implant Direct, a leading dental implant manufacturer known for its high-quality materials and proven success. This partnership allows our providers to deliver durable, affordable, and efficient dental implant options—backed by industry-leading research and precision engineering. With Implant Direct, Dental Depot patients benefit from advanced tooth replacement solutions that not only restore function and aesthetics but also support long-term oral health. It’s just another way Dental Depot ensures every patient receives the reliable, commonsense care they can count on.
A spot on your tooth could be something as simple as a surface stain—or it could be the early sign of a cavity forming beneath the enamel. Because they can look similar at first, it’s important to understand the difference between the two.
A stain is a discoloration of a tooth–or several teeth–caused by some external factor and can often be removed or improved with treatment or better oral hygiene. Stains, spots, or discolorations typically don’t cause pain or sensitivity.
A cavity is tooth decay that affects a targeted area of a tooth and damages the tooth’s internal structure. Untreated cavities are likely to cause pain and sensitivity and require professional restorative treatment.
The only way to know for sure what’s causing the spot is to visit a dentist, who can examine your teeth and determine whether it’s cosmetic or something that needs treatment.
Stains and spots on your teeth can come from a wide range of sources and factors, from everyday habits to underlying dental or health issues. While some discoloration is superficial and cosmetic, other marks may signal deeper problems that need professional attention.
Tooth stains and spots develop when pigments from food, drinks, tobacco, or other sources build up on the enamel or penetrate deeper into the tooth structure. Extrinsic stains, which affect the surface of the enamel, are often easier to treat with professional cleanings or whitening treatments. Intrinsic stains, which occur inside the tooth, and age-related discoloration, which results from enamel thinning and dentin changes, typically require more advanced treatments like bonding, veneers, or restorative care. Understanding the type of staining is important because it helps your dentist determine the best course of action to not only improve your smile’s appearance but also protect your long-term oral health.
In addition to affecting the tooth’s outer layer (the enamel), extrinsic or external stains are generally caused by external factors, like foods or drinks that you consume and smoking or tobacco use. As your teeth come into contact with these substances, the enamel begins to absorb some of the colors, causing a stain. However, since they don’t reach below the enamel into the dentin, external stains are usually easier to remove than other types. They may even be preventable by simply watching what you eat and drink.
Conversely, internal–or intrinsic–stains occur within the tooth structure and are typically the result of trauma, tooth decay, or certain medications. Although they are affecting the internal structure of the tooth, intrinsic stains may appear as dark spots or discoloration.
Age-related staining occurs as the result of thinning enamel and darkening dentin. As we age, the dentin within our teeth turns a darker shade of yellow-brown that becomes more visible as the outer enamel becomes thinner, making your teeth themselves appear darker.
Spots on teeth can appear for many reasons, and their cause often depends on where they’re located and which teeth are affected. Because spots can range from harmless stains to signs of more serious issues like decay or enamel erosion, it’s important to visit a dentist for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
White spots on your teeth could be an indication of decalcification or demineralization, a common cosmetic dental problem in which calcium, phosphate, and other essential minerals are removed from the enamel of the teeth, creating white or chalky spots. White spots as a sign of weakened enamel or tooth decay can also occur in response to eating too many acidic foods, a diet high in sugar, or acid reflux.
White spots or streaks can also develop in response to too much fluoride, a condition called fluorosis. While fluoride in the right quantities is highly beneficial to protecting teeth from cavities and decay, high levels of it–especially during childhood–can result in fluorosis.
White spots on your teeth after removing braces could be the result of plaque buildup underneath or around the brackets, which cause demineralization of the tooth.
Brown spots on your teeth are typically a sign of poor oral hygiene, diet, or lifestyle habits, but they can also be a warning sign of broader health concerns, like celiac disease. Brown spots can be caused by tobacco use or by frequent consumption of dark-colored beverages like coffee or red wine. If you have poor oral hygiene, plaque and tartar buildup can attract more bacteria, food debris, and staining particles, making your teeth look even more brown and dull.
Brown pits in your teeth are likely an indication of untreated tooth decay and cavities.
Yellow spots are generally surface stains caused by foods and beverages. Yellow spots could also be caused by natural age-related yellowing of the enamel, or as the result of deficiencies in vitamins like calcium, A, or B Complex.
Gray or blue spots on your teeth are most likely intrinsic stains caused by trauma to the tooth or by certain medications. Gray discoloration can also mean that the nerve inside the tooth has died.
There are a variety of factors that can cause black spots on your teeth, from poor oral hygiene and tooth decay to tobacco use. Stains from dark-colored foods and beverages can also turn into black spots over time.
A spot on your tooth may become painful if it is caused by underlying issues like tooth decay, enamel erosion, or infection that exposes the sensitive inner layers of the tooth. A painful spot could be an indication of a cavity, a tooth abscess, a cracked tooth, or just general tooth sensitivity.
Spots on front teeth are most commonly linked to problems with the enamel, inadequate oral hygiene, or overexposure to fluoride. White spots often indicate demineralization, a process where the enamel weakens and loses minerals, while dark spots are usually caused by plaque accumulation, tartar, or developing tooth decay
Spots on back teeth are often caused by plaque buildup, deep grooves and pits that trap food particles, and early stages of tooth decay. Because back teeth are harder to reach and clean thoroughly, they are more prone to developing cavities, staining, and discoloration over time.
Spots on baby teeth are commonly caused by early tooth decay, enamel hypoplasia (a defect in enamel development), or excessive fluoride exposure. Baby teeth are particularly susceptible to white or brown spots due to their thinner enamel and greater vulnerability to cavities if proper oral hygiene isn’t maintained.
Different types of spots on your teeth may require different treatments depending on their cause, severity, and location. Superficial stains from foods, drinks, or tobacco often respond well to professional whitening, while deeper, more permanent discoloration from enamel defects, trauma, or decay may need more extensive cosmetic or restorative care. Treatments like veneers, crowns, and fillings can not only improve the appearance of teeth but also restore their strength and function when damage is involved. Choosing the right solution is essential for protecting your long-term oral health while achieving the best aesthetic results.
If your spots or stains are primarily extrinsic, they can usually be treated with professional teeth whitening, or–depending on the severity–dental bonding or veneers.
If your stains, spots, or discoloration are the result of tooth decay or tartar buildup, you need professional treatment, including professional cleaning and/or restorative procedures such as a filling or root canal.
At Dental Depot of Oklahoma, we’re here to help you love your smile again—whether that means tackling stubborn stains or figuring out what’s behind those mysterious spots on your teeth. Our friendly, knowledgeable team provides comprehensive dental care for the whole family, so you can get everything from cleanings and checkups to whitening and restorative treatments all in one place. We take the time to understand what’s going on with your teeth and recommend the best solution, whether it’s a simple polish or something more involved. And with flexible scheduling, multiple locations, and commonsense pricing, getting the care you need has never been easier.
Find the location nearest you, and schedule an appointment today!