Even though they’re commonly called your “pearly whites,” teeth aren’t always white in color—sometimes they can retain a yellowish-brown tint, especially if you’re a regular coffee fiend. This is perhaps the most common type of staining; however, it is certainly not the only type. It’s also possible for teeth to turn blue or gray in color, which surprises some patients. Here’s more about a few of the possible causes for this discoloration, along with why turning toward your trustworthy dentist for assistance is a wise move.
What Causes Teeth to Turn Gray?
When teeth turn gray, the cause is rarely obvious and usually requires a little detective work on your dentist’s part. That said, here are a few possible explanations for this type of discoloration:
Old Age
Sometimes, simply growing older can cause your teeth to darken and turn grayish-blue in color.
Physical Trauma
Anything that cuts off blood flow to a tooth can result in the tooth dying and turning gray. Gray staining can also occur much later than when the trauma was suffered.
Tooth Decay
Similarly, tooth decay can also inhibit blood flow to a tooth, causing it to turn gray—which also leads to all sorts of other issues if left unaddressed.
Tetracycline
This antibiotic can sometimes turn teeth gray in children, especially those under the age of eight. It’s also possible for other medications, even the ones used in root canal treatment, to cause teeth to turn brown or grayish.
Dental Restorations
The materials used to fill in cavities or restore lost/damaged teeth can sometimes cause tooth discoloration. This is common with options like metal crowns and silver fillings.
Dentinogenesis imperfecta
This is a rare hereditary disorder that affects tooth development and can make both baby and permanent teeth appear blue-gray. To make matters worse, it can also lead to weaker teeth that are more prone to breakage.
Can My Dentist Help with Tooth Discoloration?
Nobody should ever have to settle for a smile that doesn’t bring them joy, especially when so many innovative dental treatments exist! Tooth discoloration, whether it’s yellow, brown, blue or gray, can be addressed with the help of your dentist. They can assess the cause, sometimes with the assistance of X-rays or a pulp test, and then prescribe appropriate treatment. It’s very important to see a dentist for gray teeth, regardless of what you believe the cause might be—it could be a signal that your tooth is dying, and it might also pose a risk to the rest of your healthy teeth!
Whitening treatments can be utilized in some instances, but these are often more effective for yellow staining than gray staining. Veneers and crowns can also be used, but in any and all cases, excellent oral hygiene moving forward is one surefire way to limit or prevent any future discoloration.
About the Practice
Here at Webster Lake Dental, we pride ourselves on being able to provide patients and families in the Webster community with compassionate and personalized high-quality dental care. We’re excited to offer a wide range of preventive, cosmetic and restorative treatment options in addition to treating dental emergencies. If you have any questions about the blog or you have concerns about graying teeth, don’t hesitate to contact us today for further information or assistance. Telephone: (508) 943-8111.