Gray is a lovely neutral color that matches a variety of aesthetics. However, while it may look nice on a sofa or as a shirt color, it’s not exactly #goals for your teeth. Here’s why your smile could be turning this strange hue, and a few treatments from your cosmetic dentist to fix it!
Dead Tooth Nerves
Although not extremely common, if your tooth becomes infected and you wait too long to treat it, the nerves inside can die. This can result in the tooth turning an abnormal color, such as black, pink, blue, or gray. If this occurs, you may need a root canal or extraction to save your smile. Then, once it’s feeling better you can discuss whitening options with your dentist if the normal color does not return.
Enamel Defects
The enamel is the hard, outer layer of your teeth, and the part you see when you smile. When this substance is clean and healthy, it will appear white. However, if it has birth defects such as dentinogenesis imperfecta, those pearly whites could appear blue or even gray!
Early Antibiotic Exposure
Tetracycline is an antibiotic used to treat severe acne and bacterial infections. Unfortunately, if exposed during gestation or childhood, it can cause children’s teeth to appear blue, yellow, brown, or gray, and they may even have horizontal striping in the enamel.
Older Metal Restorations
While amalgam restorations are a durable, effective way to repair decay and cavities in the teeth, the metal used in them can discolor your smile over time, leaving behind a gray or blue cast. While these older fillings can be easily swapped out for composite resin, tooth-colored fillings, if there are any lingering traces of discoloration, your cosmetic dentist can help.
Options for Whitening Your Smile
Now that you know why your teeth might be turning gray or another unsightly shade, you may be wondering how your cosmetic dentist can help. Here are four incredible treatments that can restore the bright, white appearance of your enamel!
Veneers/Lumineers
These thin porcelain shells fit over the teeth and can change their shape, size, spacing and even their color. Best of all, they’re stain resistant, so they won’t take on the shade of your last meal!
Cosmetic Bonding
Cosmetic bonding is a versatile treatment that can rebuild chipped teeth, fix minor spacing issues, and even cover deeply stained or discolored teeth in just a few minutes!
In-Office / Take-Home Whitening
Professional whitening from your dentist can remove up to eight shades of discoloration in about an hour for in-office treatment and two weeks with custom take-home kit. Although the results are permanent, you’ll need to take excellent care of your smile, so your teeth don’t become re-stained with time. If they do, no worries! You can return to have them re-whitened every six months or so.
Metal-Free Restorations
Whether it’s a crown, bridge, or filling, metal free restorations are made of durable, natural-looking materials that won’t create dark spots in your smile, nor will they leach color into your teeth that refuses to budge with brushing alone. Plus, they offer unprecedented protection and full chewing capabilities, so you don’t need to make any compromises to have a healthy and beautiful smile!
Remember, while there are many reasons why your teeth may not be as white and bright as you’d like, if you’re ready to gray out discoloration in your smile, talk to your dentist about your cosmetic dentistry options today!
About Dr. Welter
Dr. Hayden Welter earned his undergraduate degree in biomedical sciences from AdventHealth University in Orlando, and his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree at Midwestern University. If you’d like to get a whiter, brighter smile without any gray areas, schedule a consultation at Seaside Dental of New Smyrna Beach by visiting our website or calling 386-428-1270.