Dentists generally group tooth darkening into two types: extrinsic (on the surface) and intrinsic (inside the tooth).
In other words, seeing blackened teeth causes that are superficial is very different from having a tooth that has gone dark from internal decay. The treatment differs accordingly.
Here are the main reasons teeth may develop black or dark spots:
Dark food and drink (coffee, tea, red wine, beetroot) or smoking/tobacco use leave pigment deposits on enamel. Over time, these can look like dark streaks or patches. When these stains sit long enough and combine with plaque, they may show up as part of the black teeth causes you’re trying to identify.
According to a 2025 study published in BMC Oral Health, the prevalence of dark or black stains on teeth caused by chromogenic bacteria ranges from 3.1% to 18.5%, showing how common these surface stains are among both children and adults
If plaque isn’t removed, it hardens into tartar, which can turn yellow, brown, or even black. A dark deposit near the gum line often points to this.
In a pediatric study (Frontiers in Pediatrics, 2022), 12.4% of children showed visible black stains, averaging 13–14 affected teeth per child, mostly linked to poor brushing habits and chromogenic bacteria.
Some medicines, iron drops, or metallic fillings can react in the mouth and leave dark marks. The outer surface may stain, or the filling may cast a shadow.
When you see teeth cavity black or darkening and spreading across a tooth, the cause may be advanced decay, a dead nerve, or other internal damage. At this stage, the question becomes why teeth become black from within, not only from stains on the surface.
A blow to a tooth, some antibiotics in childhood (tetracycline), or genetic enamel/dentin defects may cause a tooth to darken intrinsically.
As you age, enamel thins and the underlying dentin (which tends to be darker) shows through. This can give an overall darker look to teeth.
Putting these together, you can understand how blackened teeth causes may involve more than just stain removal, they might require medical or restorative care.
At a clinic like PowerSmiles Dental Clinic, the approach will be:
Diagnosis matters because how to remove black stains from teeth depends entirely on the cause. If you just polish off surface pigment but ignore a non-vital tooth, the problem persists and may worsen.
Book your dental cleaning today at PowerSmiles Dental Clinic in Bangalore to remove stubborn black stains safely.
Below are typical treatment for black teeth from simplest to more complex. Your dentist will choose based on cause and severity.
Used for surface deposits, pigments, tartar, and minor staining. Scaling and polishing remove hardened plaque/tartar and pigment deposits.
When stains are more stubborn but still surface-level, micro-abrasion treatments may be used. This gently removes a thin outer enamel layer and may lighten stains
Use phone alarms or sticky notes initially until it becomes automatic.For stains that are deeper than tartar but still manageable, bleaching, in-office or via take-home custom trays, is viable. It helps lift internal stains too, though results vary. If your question is how to remove black stains from teeth, whitening is a powerful option when the tooth is healthy inside.
When staining comes from decay or old restorations, more intensive work is needed:
In rare cases where the tooth cannot be saved, extraction with an implant or bridge may be recommended. This is the last resort for teeth turning black from severe damage.
Power Smiles Dental offers full restorative services, including root canal treatments and dental implants.
While professional treatment is key for many cases, you can help your long-term results by following these steps:
Consult our specialists to find the right treatment for black teeth and protect your oral health long-term.
See a dentist promptly if you notice:
Getting a diagnosis early improves the chances of less invasive treatment.
Black stains on teeth may appear concerning, but they are typically curable once the cause is identified. Some stains are caused by things you do every day or by plaque buildup, while others are signs of more serious problems, including decay or nerve damage. A professional dental inspection is the best approach to determine the cause and select the appropriate therapy for black teeth, which can range from simple cleaning to whitening or restorative treatments.
