What does a tooth discoloration indicate?
Everyone wants a flashy, sparkling smile. It can be achieved by maintaining the natural color of our teeth. Many people believe that a healthy natural tooth would appear pearly white. They are not aware of the fact the degree of whiteness in teeth varies for each person.
Despite many advanced solutions are available to improve the appearance of your teeth, discoloration is inevitable. Teeth discoloration appears as a dental problem but it can turn your smile unattractive and embarrassing. Moreover, it signals the underlying oral complications through the color of stains or discolorations.
In this article, our dentists have listed the common problems related to the hue of abnormal colors on teeth.
1) Yellow discoloration
Yellow discoloration is very common because our teeth will turn yellow as they age. It is due to the years of wear and exposing the dentin underneath which is yellow. Moreover, the dreaded yellow on teeth occurs due to various factors including genes. The possible aspects include:
- Taking acidic foods and beverages – Besides causing stubborn stains over the teeth’ enamel, the acidic substances will erode the enamel. It is followed by revealing the underlying dentin layer.
- Diseases like neonatal jaundice
- Medications taken for certain illnesses
In certain cases, any injury in the milk teeth will upset the formation of permanent teeth. It leads to making the adult teeth appear more yellow.
2) Brown Discoloration
The hue of brown color ranges from yellow to dark brown and is easily noticeable. Mostly, it occurs due to genetics and poor oral habits especially smoking, chewing tobacco. The chemical substances in smokeless tobacco products also lead to brown discoloration of teeth.
On the other hand, consumption of dark fruits like blueberries, blackberries also leaves a brown-colored layer on your teeth.
Primarily, a problematic tooth exhibits brown stains due to underlying problems or damaged dental appliances. The possible concerns include:
- Tooth decay
- Infected pulp chamber
- Damage in a tooth’s nerve
- Celiac disease
- Broken dental fillings
The permanent teeth erupted in brown color for some kids. It might happen due to tetracycline exposure when they were in their mothers’ wombs. Several studies show that when tetracycline (the antibiotic prescribed to fight against bacterial infections) is taken excessively by an expectant mother, it would stain the teeth of a developing baby and it is termed tetracycline staining.
3) Gray Discoloration
Generally, a tooth turns gray only when it is dead. It means the gray discoloration is the sign of a dead tooth and preserving it is quite tedious.
When a tooth is severely injured, the nerves inside it also get hurt. In such cases, the infected nerves and blood vessels cannot supply a sufficient amount of blood to maintain the tooth’s normal functionalities. If the infected tooth is not treated in time, it will turn gray color that indicates the tooth is dying.
4) White discoloration
White discoloration involves bright white spots that look contrast with the natural color of enamel. Improper diet and poor oral hygiene also have an indirect link to such white-colored lesions on teeth.
However, two important things regarding white spots to mention are:
- Dental fluorosis – It occurs when a person takes too much fluoride for a long time during the teeth development stage.
- Enamel Hypoplasia – This is a condition in which the enamel is not formed properly. It makes the enamel thin, weak, and brittle. It can be identified with symptoms like white spots, fissures over the teeth surface.
Bottom line
Keep in mind that teeth discoloration is not just a cosmetic concern but is signaling the progression of various oral complications inside a tooth. Hence if you notice the stains and discolorations are stubborn, consult your dentist immediately.
Teeth discoloration is unavoidable as our teeth are exposed to various foodstuffs, and undergo constant wear for a long time. It can be prevented to a certain extent with dental hygiene activities like brushing, flossing, etc. Similarly, you can get various teeth whitening solutions in a dental clinic.
