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Did you know that teeth can appear black? While it is not common, it can happen when the tooth enamel is affected. Of course, proper dental care can reduce the chances of something like this happening, but you should know what to do if you notice a change in color.
One of the main things people will want to know is about teeth whitening and whether these procedures can help. Here is everything you need to know about these products, black teeth, and what causes them, as well as potential solutions to the issue.
In the majority of cases, professional teeth whitening will be able to solve the problem. Your dentist will be able to offer more details about the process and best ways to have pearly whites.
What Are Black Teeth?
As people grow older, it is not rare to see the color of teeth change. And the problem can be quite significant. Now, the term black teeth don’t mean that teeth will become instantly and literally black. It takes time. But still, the change in color can be noticeable after a while.
There are several different reasons why that might happen, and while the first reason why people might want to avoid it is for aesthetic reasons, it is also something that can affect your health. It is always best if you can avoid such conditions, and for your teeth to remain white and healthy.
Symptoms
If your teeth start to turn black, you will likely notice it after some time, but not right away since the change is gradual. In most cases, it is possible to notice tooth discoloration on time, but the situation will worsen if left untreated.
In some cases, the outer layer of the tooth will start showing brown spots that will continue to get darker and darker. After a while, the color will progress, and a person might notice black spots.
In other cases, the patient will have black areas on top of their teeth, and they are usually below the gum line. And as the situation gets worse, it will affect the rest of the tooth, causing additional problems
Reasons Why Teeth Are Turning Black
Finally, certain medications such as those containing liquid iron supplements, fillings with silver sulfide, and similar can cause discoloration as well. This is why it is crucial for you to know the cause of the problem before you do anything.
When it comes to causes, there are two important cases to distinguish: the color can change for live and non-living teeth. This refers to teeth that have nerves or those that don’t. For teeth with nerves, the color change can be caused by foods and drinks, and the situation is not permanent.
In other cases, it can be caused by poor oral hygiene, smoking (or using other tobacco-based products), tooth decay, trauma, drinking water with too much fluoride, metal fillings, and so on.
It is also related to age, overall health, and other important life habits. As for teeth that don’t have nerves, the situation is a lot simpler. The tooth will become gray with time since there is no metabolism or circulation. Any pigment that can stain the tooth will remain there as well.
Finally, certain medications, such as those containing liquid iron supplements, fillings with silver sulfide, and similar, can also cause discoloration. That is why you must know the cause of the problem before you do anything
Prevention
As always, prevention is the key. You can easily avoid having a black tooth (or teeth) by making a couple of life-changing decisions. Smoking is something that can easily change the color of your teeth, and if you quit this dangerous habit, it will improve your oral health.
Furthermore, any product with dyes can cause discoloration. That includes coffee, tea, wine, juices, dark chocolate, berries, etc. Now, this doesn’t mean that you should quit cold turkey —the point is to avoid overdoing it.
Reduce coffee intake, for example, and if that is not possible, you can always wash your mouth after drinking it. As for other conditions, it is always easier to visit a dental professional and see whether everything is fine with your teeth.
Cavities are easy to fix, and it is a lot better to stop tooth decay before it progresses. After that, the only option will be root canal treatment.
Treatments
The treatment options will mostly depend on the cause of the teeth staining. In some cases, teeth whitening products might help, but it is not always the best solution. In some cases, professional dental hygiene might be necessary.
That is especially important for black tartar that accumulates on teeth since it can be removed with professional tools. Of course, if tooth decay is the cause, the only option is to treat it. The process sometimes includes root canal treatment, and if the decay is too advanced, it could result in extraction.
Remember that various fillings, veneers, crowns, and other dental restorations can change the tooth’s appearance even after the procedure. So, it’s not hopeless. Dental implants can also be helpful after tooth extraction, and the implant will look as good as the natural tooth.
Moreover, a tooth without a nerve will lose color over time, and it might be clean and healthy, but the color won’t change. And there is a limit to how helpful teeth whitening procedures can be.
But even if the tooth turning black is not able to restore its color, you can still get a crown that will look as natural as it can be.
What to Do?
While you can try using teeth-whitening products such as whitening toothpaste, it is always best to avoid doing anything on your own. You should know the reason why the tooth (or teeth) started changing color.
And the only way to do that is to visit your dentist. They will be able to provide more details and treat the tooth if needed. If there is no need for any dental procedure, the dentist can recommend whitening products and ways for you to change the physical appearance of your teeth.
Teeth Whitening in Bronzeville
If you are looking for the best teeth whitening services in Bronzeville, Chicago, you should visit Bronzeville Orthodontics. Professional teeth whitening will give better results than anything you can do at home.
And at the same time, you can ensure that you are not causing any harm to your teeth and that there are no underlying conditions. It is simple and effective, and it will ensure your teeth remain white for a long time.
