Management of dental staining: can low-abrasive dentifrices play a role?

Dental staining, while always a significant problem, has become more important in recent years with the introduction and increased use of chlorhexidine-based mouthrinses. Not only do these rinses themselves cause staining, they also enhance staining from other sources, such as diet or tobacco use. An understanding of the etiologies of dental stains will help today's practitioners become more effective in managing dental stains in their practices. Important strategies for managing stain are patient education about the causes of staining, careful consideration of product recommendations for home use, and routine office visits for prophylaxis. Ideal products for patient use are those with effective stain-removal properties and low abrasivity, which minimizes tooth wear.