Everybody’s teeth look a little bit different. While most people want a whiter smile, it’s perfectly natural for teeth to turn a little yellow with age.
However, some discoloration is more serious than others. Gray teeth, for example, can be indicative of a host of oral health problems. If you want to know a little bit more about gray teeth, where they come from, and what you can do about them, here’s a guide that can tell you what you want to know.
What Causes Gray Teeth?
Unlike other forms of discoloration, gray teeth aren’t typically the result of too much coffee or red wine—there’s usually an underlying medical issue that causes them. For example:
- Certain Medications: Certain drugs have the side effect of causing teeth to turn gray. The antibiotic tetracycline can often do this in children younger than 8. Some medications used in root canal surgery, like Ledermix, can also potentially have this effect.
- Tooth Decay: Teeth can turn gray when there’s a lack of blood flow to them. If the tooth is decayed significantly, it can potentially damage the route of blood flow.
- Trauma: In a similar vein, teeth being struck or broken can interfere with blood flow.
- Fillings: Your tooth is semi-transparent, so if you have a silver filling you may be able to see it through your tooth.
- Age: Teeth can become discolored as you age, meaning that your entire smile may be a little grayer than it was before.
How Are Gray Teeth Treated?
If you have one or more gray teeth, you may only find limited success with professional teeth whitening treatments. It can be worth trying, but the results will depend on how dark your teeth are.
If your tooth has gone gray because it’s died, then the best course of action may be to have it pulled and replace it with either a dental implant or a bridge. If it’s not dead but too dark to whiten, your dentist may also recommend covering it with a veneer.
The exact course of treatment will of course depend on your particular circumstances, so you’d need to talk with a dentist to know for sure what to do. They’ll be able to diagnose what’s causing your gray tooth, and craft a treatment plan designed to help you.
About the Author
Dr. Jennifer Pham is a dentist who loves combining her dentistry knowledge with her artistic eye to give her patients the smile of their dreams. She’s always amazed at the massive difference even small changes to their appearance can make in people’s confidence. Dr. Pham received her dental doctorate from the Temple University School of Dentistry and is a proud member of the Virginia Dental Association.
If you have any questions about gray teeth, she can be reached at her website or by phone at (703) 666-3867.