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10% off by post with code BF10, already added for you, and 10% off at our clinic when you pay. Dentures are not included.
15% off this weekend, by post and at our clinic, taken off for you. Dentures are not included.
Stained teeth and what each colour means
Most stains are harmless, but some colours can signal decay or a problem inside the tooth. Pick the colour closest to yours.
What colour are your stains?
Yellow
Teeth darken with age. Tea, coffee, red wine and smoking add surface stain. Some people simply have more yellow teeth.
Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. A hygienist clean lifts surface stain. Whitening lightens healthy teeth.
Brown stains
Usually tea, coffee, wine or smoking, often between teeth or near gums. Tartar picks up brown stain. Brown spots can also be decay.
A hygienist can clean off stain and tartar. Get a dentist to check any spot that's rough, sticky or sensitive.
Black spots or holes
See a dentist first. This can be a sign of something that needs treating.
The NHS lists brown or black spots as a possible sign of decay. In back tooth grooves, stain and decay look the same.
See a dentist. Decay won't go away by itself, and whitening or covering won't help a hole.
Black at the gum line
See a dentist first. This can be a sign of something that needs treating.
Often tartar at or under the gum that has picked up stain. It can also be an old crown or filling edge, or decay.
A dentist or hygienist can remove tartar; brushing can't. Bleeding or swollen gums: see a dentist.
Grey
See a dentist first. This can be a sign of something that needs treating.
One tooth turning grey, often months or years after a knock, may have a damaged or dead nerve. Old metal fillings can shadow too.
See a dentist. Whitening works from outside, so it won't fix a tooth darkened from inside.
White spots
The NHS lists white spots as a possible early sign of decay. They can also come from how enamel formed, or after braces.
Ask a dentist. Fluoride varnish or mouthwash from a dentist can help reverse early decay.
One darker tooth
Often a crown, veneer, filling or bonding that stayed the same while your teeth changed. Or a problem inside the tooth.
Whitening won't change dental work. A dentist can check the tooth and whether the work can be replaced.
Our whitening kit, with custom trays made in our UK lab. Same day at our clinic from £199, or by post from £129.
- Rated Excellent on Trustpilot
- Made in our UK lab
- GDC registered technicians
What causes teeth discoloration?
Surface stains sit on the enamel, come from what you eat, drink and smoke, and a good clean often removes them. Inside stains come from within the tooth, after a knock, from decay or with age. Cleaning can't reach those.
The NHS names three common causes: getting older, drinks like coffee, tea or red wine, and smoking.
When a stain needs a dentist first
We're a dental lab, not a dentist, so we can't check for decay, treat gums or fix a dead tooth. In pain or swollen and can't reach a dentist? Call NHS 24 on 111.
- Dark spots that are soft, rough, sticky or sore, or a hole
- One tooth gone grey or dark, especially after a knock
- Gums that bleed, or are red, swollen or sore
- Toothache, swelling or a bad taste that won't go
- Dark gum line marks that return soon after cleaning
Coffee stains on teeth: what helps day to day
You don't have to give up coffee, tea or wine. Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and clean between teeth daily so plaque can't hold stain. A rinse of water after coffee helps too.
Shop whitening toothpastes and strips may lift some surface stain, but the Oral Health Foundation says they rarely change your natural colour. Scrubbing with a stiff brush wears enamel. For years of build up, a hygienist scale and polish is often quickest.
Your options for stained teeth compared
Which option helps depends on the kind of stain. Prices for our kit and click in veneers are further down.
Our whitening kitWhat whitening can and can't change
Whitening only lightens natural teeth. The Oral Health Foundation says it won't work on fillings, crowns or veneers, and nor on bonding, so whitened teeth can make that work look darker. A tooth darkened from inside won't respond.
Results depend on your teeth, so we don't promise a set number of shades.
The NHS says whitening isn't done on unhealthy teeth or gums, so sort decay or gum problems first. If teeth get sensitive or gums sore, stop and let it settle; ask a dentist if it doesn't.
Our whitening kit
Custom trays and PAP+, a peroxide free whitening gel, with 3 syringes, an LED light and a travel case. 18 or over.
Our whitening kit- Ready in around 2 hours
- Impressions taken with our team
- Klarna Pay in 3 at our clinic
- Custom trays, peroxide free gel, LED light
- Impression kit sent to your door
- Made in our UK lab
£25 to book a same day visit, taken off your total and refunded if you cancel 24 hours or more before. Klarna Pay in 3 at our clinic: 18 or over, subject to approval. Late fees may apply. Borrowing more than you can afford or paying late may affect your ability to get credit.
When whitening can't help: covering stains
Too deep for whitening, or teeth also worn or uneven? These customers chose click in veneers.
Before
After: Click in veneers
Before
After: Click in veneers
Before
After: Click in veneersReal customers before and after same day click in veneers at our clinic. Results vary from person to person.
Our click in veneersHow click in veneers cover stained teeth
Click in veneers are thin and removable and clip over your own teeth. Nothing is drilled, filed or glued. Shades: Diamond White, Natural White (when in doubt) and Ivory White, popular over 40.
A cosmetic cover, not a fix. Most people take them out for meals and to sleep, and they usually last 6 to 18 months, depending on the person. Not for loose teeth, braces or severe gum problems.
Questions people ask
Something else? Send us a message.
Why are my teeth yellow when I brush every day?
Brushing removes plaque and some surface stain, but it can't change the natural colour of your teeth. Teeth darken with age, and some people have naturally darker teeth. Tea, coffee, red wine and smoking add stain on top. A hygienist clean or whitening may help if your teeth and gums are healthy.
Are black teeth always a sign of decay?
No. Black lines near the gums are often tartar that has picked up stain, or the edge of an old crown or filling. But the NHS lists brown or black spots as a possible sign of decay, and you can't tell them apart in a mirror. See a dentist or hygienist to check.
Can whitening remove brown stains?
Whitening can lighten surface stain and the natural colour of healthy teeth. It won't remove tartar, which needs a professional clean, and it won't help brown spots caused by decay.
Can I get stains removed on the NHS?
The NHS covers a scale and polish when a dentist says it's clinically needed. Cosmetic whitening isn't usually available on the NHS.
Can click in veneers cover black teeth?
They can cover dark or stained teeth, but only once a dentist has checked there's no decay or infection underneath. Covering a problem doesn't stop it getting worse.
A brighter smile, made to fit.
Whitening kit, made in our UK lab. Same day at our clinic near Glasgow, or by post to your door.
About this guide
Written by the team at our UK dental lab, where GDC registered technicians make every appliance. We are a dental lab, not a dentist: we make cosmetic and protective appliances and cannot diagnose or treat dental problems. If you are unsure, see a dentist first.
Written by the Venneir lab team. Updated 12 Nov 2026.
Sources
Upper Impression Tray
Lower Impression Tray