Black spots on the teeth are embarrassing sometimes and could seriously mar one's confidence. This condition can be caused by a variety of factors and the most common reason is smoking. The deposits on the teeth that smoking causes can appear as black spots as they are aggravated by the tartar already on the teeth. The plaque and tartar which is the sign of a lack of oral dental hygiene in a lot of smokers is another cause for the development of black spots. There does exist the myth that chewing tobacco is somehow less harmful than smoking. Chewing tobacco could however lead to staining, black spots and even lesions that are pre-cancerous. If your teeth are decayed, the black spots could be caused by that as well as by a leakage of dental restorations particularly silver amalgam restorations. Those who consume an excessive amount of caffeine through caffeinated drinks are more susceptible to this condition and especially if you have had restorations done previously. If these black spots are not treated in time, they may spread across the tooth and cause it to rot. The tooth will eventually have to be pulled out and replaced by an artificial one lest the gap causes the other teeth to fall out of line.
It is important that you consult your dentist over the spots to make sure that they are not caused by any internal condition. You could get your teeth cleaned at the dentist's to remove some of the external stains and if you smoke or chew tobacco, that will have to stop at once. Try chewing gum or keep chewy nuts and fruits at hand to overcome cravings. Brush your teeth twice a day, once in the morning and once right before going to bed. If possible, brush after every meal to make sure that no food particles have accumulated there and floss twice a day. If you are at a place where this is not possible, swish your mouth with water to make sure that no food particles are stuck to your teeth. Use a little table salt to scrub onto your teeth once a day. In some countries, wood ash is used instead of paste and is an excellent way of keeping teeth clean, but in the absence of it salt is an excellent remedy. While keeping your teeth clean it will also act against possible bacterial attacks. Drink a cup of yoghurt every day as the probiotic bacteria in it is capable of working against harmful bacteria.
answered by M W