There are many ways you can learn that there is something wrong with your teeth, whether it’s pain or the results of a dental x-ray. Another way is that your teeth may start to be discolored. While some discoloring is the sign of aging, gray teeth can have specific reasons. If you have noticed this is happening, we recommend you contact us for a dental exam and cleaning. In the meantime you can read on to learn about some of the potential reasons for the gray color.
- You may have a cavity
- Medications may have stained your teeth
- Your teeth have been through trauma
- You may have had too much fluoride
One of the most common causes for a person to discover a gray tooth is that they have a cavity. If you have pain in your mouth and there are just one or two teeth that are turning gray, rather than your entire mouth, then it may be a cavity. These cavities are just tiny holes in your teeth or between your teeth, and they can look gray. If you do think you have a cavity then you will want to contact your dental professional as soon as possible. This cavity is only going to get worse and more costly to treat.
There are several medications that can actually lead to your teeth being stained as one of their side effects. For example, if you are taking tetracycline antibiotics, then your teeth may gray as a result. The bad news is that there is not much you can do to prevent medications from having this effect. The good news is that there are cosmetic dentistry options that can help, such as teeth whitening or veneers.
If you have been hit in the mouth by something, or have had another type of trauma to your mouth, then this may be the reason that your teeth are gray. If you are hit directly in the mouth, your body may release extra iron in your blood. This is designed to help make your injury heal faster but it may also cause discoloring. If you believe this is the reason for your discoloring, then you want to visit your dentist right away to make sure there is no serious damage.
If you have had too much fluoride then your teeth may discolor. This is not a serious issue and you can make a small change that could get rid of it: Don’t drink water in municipal water sources because they have fluoride in them (in most places). If you do not have discoloring then you should continue to drink fluorinated water because it actually helps keep your teeth strong.
Talk to your dentist for answers
If you are concerned about your tooth discoloration, or you want to do something about it, then we recommend contacting California Dental Group at 800-407-0161 to set up an appointment.
