What Causes Tooth Decay?

Tooth decay is caused by bacteria in plaque that adhere to the teeth and break down sugars in foods and drinks.1 This breakdown produces lactic acid and leads to the loss of calcium phosphate from the structure of your teeth.1 These acid attacks can last for an hour before the minerals in your saliva helps the outer layer of your tooth to remineralize (or harden) again.2 Cavities most commonly form on the chewing surfaces of the teeth, mostly due to their irregular topography and natural nooks and crannies that facilitate the buildup of plaque and bacteria.1 However, any part of the tooth is at risk for decay.2

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Staining Between Teeth: Causes and Prevention

Have you noticed discoloration in between your teeth? If the answer is “yes,” your teeth might be stained. Learn more about what your tooth stains might mean and how to get rid of stains between teeth.

What Are the Different Types of Tooth Stains?

There are two types of tooth stains to be aware of: extrinsic and intrinsic stains.¹

Extrinsic stains accumulate on your enamel.¹ They’re the result of environmental factors of lifestyle choices, like tobacco use or drinking coffee.¹
Intrinsic stains happen inside your teeth within the enamel and may be the result of genetic disorders, aging or cavities.¹

What Causes Tooth Stains?

There are many different reasons why you might notice stains between your teeth. Teeth may become stained due to:²

Incorrect oral hygiene: If you don’t brush or floss your teeth regularly, you’re more likely to develop stained teeth. Stains will cling to dental plaque.
Consuming dark-colored foods or drinks: Beverages like coffee or red wine can stain your teeth. Dark foods like soy sauce can also cause staining.
Too much fluoride during childhood: If you have high levels of fluoride in childhood, you might develop white or brown spots on your teeth.
Tobacco use: People who smoke or use tobacco may develop stained teeth.

What Do Different Tooth Stain Colors Mean?

The color of the stains between your teeth may help you pinpoint what’s causing them.² Here’s what the color of the stains in between your teeth might mean:²

Brown stains between teeth may be the result of chewing tobacco or smoking.
Yellow stains often happen from eating or drinking dark-colored foods or drinks. Yellow teeth might also occur when you’re not doing enough to clean your teeth.
Purple stains might be present if you drink lots of red wine.
Gray stains can occur from dental trauma. If you’re noticing grayness in your teeth, it may mean that the nerve inside your tooth died.
Black stains may be the result of severe tooth decay.
White stains may be the result of too much fluoride in childhood. They can also mean that a cavity is forming.

How Can I Prevent Staining Between Teeth?

Not all tooth stains can be prevented, but there are ways you can minimize the chance of tooth stains.² To minimize stains between your teeth:²

Brush and floss twice daily. Make sure to brush with a fluoride toothpaste and soft-bristled toothbrush for at least two minutes each time.
See your dentist regularly. You should visit your dentist at least twice a year.³
Limit drinks that cause stains, like tea, coffee and red wine.
Drink water to hydrate and rinse. Drink lots of water and rinse your mouth after drinking beverages that can stain your teeth.
Quit tobacco. Tobacco can stain your teeth.

How to Get Rid of Stains Between Teeth

Here are a few ways you can whiten between your teeth:

Look for a whitening toothpaste.⁴ All toothpastes can help remove surface stains, but whitening toothpastes have polishing agents for stain removal.⁴ Consider a toothpaste like Pronamel Gentle Whitening Toothpaste, which gently yet effectively removes stains to help restore teeth to their natural whiteness.
Try a whitening treatment.⁴ Your dentist can whiten your teeth in their office, or you can try an over-the-counter whitening treatment like whitening strips.⁴
Get a dental cleaning.⁵ Hygienists can remove stains, plaque and tartar from your teeth.⁵ Tartar can cause brown, yellow or black stains on teeth.⁵

In between dentist visits, protect your teeth with Pronamel Intensive Enamel Repair Extra Fresh Mouthwash. Over time, the consumption of acidic foods and beverages can gradually erode tooth enamel, revealing a faded yellow layer and increasing its susceptibility to further damage. This alcohol-free^ enamel repair mouthwash has a re-mineralizing action for strong, protected teeth and actively repairs weakened enamel*. Explore more Pronamel products that protect against the effects of acid erosion and reharden enamel.

^{*when used as directed with a fluoride toothpaste
^contains no ethanol}

Source Citations:

Whitening. American Dental Association. https://www.ada.org/resources/ada-library/oral-health-topics/whitening. Accessed 8/22/2025.
Tooth Discoloration. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/10958-tooth-discoloration. Accessed 8/22/2025.
Your Top 9 Questions About Going to the Dentist—Answered! MouthHealthy. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/dental-care/questions-about-going-to-the-dentist. Accessed 8/22/2025.
Teeth Whitening. MouthHealthy. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/teeth-whitening. Accessed 8/22/2025.
Tartar. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/25102-tartar. Accessed 8/22/2025.

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