The protective enamel surface of your teeth has a naturally bluish-white tinge. The inner portion of your teeth, the dentin, is naturally yellowish or tannish gray. In strong, young, healthy teeth, the layers of enamel hide the dinginess of the dentin.
Aging, your lifestyle, and certain drugs and diseases may discolor your teeth, leaving them looking yellow, brown, green, or spotted. The dental experts at Mosaic Dental in Sterling, Virginia, want you to pay attention to your teeth and learn about the color clues they give that could indicate a problem.
White spots
Bright white spots on your teeth could be a sign of a condition called fluorosis. Although dentists use the mineral fluoride to strengthen your teeth, too much of a good thing can be problematic.
Children may develop fluorosis if they drink highly fluoridated water. They may also develop it if they use an excessive amount of fluoride products or undergo too many fluoride dental treatments.
Red teeth
A very rare condition called porphyria may cause your teeth to look deep red or reddish brown. Porphyrias are a group of genetic diseases that affect the production of heme, which is an important part of the blood protein hemoglobin.
Green teeth
Your teeth may turn green because of intrinsic (internal to the tooth) factors, or extrinsic (a habit or exposure to something outside the tooth) reasons. A few causes of green teeth include:
- Infant jaundice
- Rh or ABO blood incompatibility
- Sepsis
- Hemolytic anemia
Gray or black teeth
If you got metal fillings in your teeth to repair and seal cavities, they could be the culprit behind your gray or black teeth. Just as tarnished silver develops black patches, the silver in your metal amalgams could discolor all of your teeth.
Brown teeth
Coffee and tea are notorious for leaving brown stains on your teeth. But worst of all may be tobacco. Chewing tobacco, especially, exposes your teeth to the pigments in the tobacco plant.
Yellow teeth
Yellow teeth are the most common type of discoloration. Aging alone is a factor, since your enamel begins to thin as you get older, exposing more and more of the yellow dentin underneath.
What you can do about tooth discoloration
The first step is to practice good dental hygiene. Regular brushing and flossing removes the plaque and tartar that can discolor your teeth.
For stains that have already occurred, professional teeth whitening can produce dramatic results. We can also help with veneers, dental bonding, and crowns.
To learn more about what the color of your teeth may mean, and how to restore them to a healthy white, contact us at Mosaic Dental today.