Darkened tooth: causes, treatment and prevention. What is important to know if caries has destroyed the deep-lying internal tissues of the tooth...

Darkening of tooth enamel - a phenomenon that is often observed in both children and adults.

How does darkening of tooth enamel manifest?

The color of a person’s teeth does not always depend on the color of the enamel, but on the color of the inside of the tooth, that is, the dentin. The structure of the tooth is porous, both outside and inside. As a result, those natural dyes that get on teeth with food and other things stain the tooth from the outside. But a change in color also occurs due to the penetration of pigments from the inside. In dentistry, tooth discoloration is usually divided into several types. These include superficial changes in tooth shade, deep tooth staining, and changes in tooth color that occur with age.

Why does tooth enamel darken?

Darkening of tooth enamel can occur for various reasons. All reasons that provoke darkening of tooth enamel are usually divided into external and internal. External factors that affect the color of teeth include smoking, the appearance of teeth, and frequent consumption of coffee, black tea, red wine, and certain foods. Darkening of tooth enamel in children and adults, which is associated with external causes, can be easily eliminated by carrying out special procedures in a dental clinic.

The tooth may darken due to the appearance of plaque or tartar. Tartar appears due to the hardening of plaque. Its formation is primarily associated with poor oral hygiene. People who brush their teeth irregularly or incorrectly, as well as those who eat mostly soft foods, suffer from tartar. Tartar can appear as a result of chewing on only one side of the jaw. It is observed in people suffering from salt metabolism disorders.

When the color of a tooth is influenced by internal causes, the inner layers of the tooth become stained. In this case, the development of certain diseases, excess fluoride or its deficiency, taking a number of medications.

A tooth can quickly darken even in the initial stages of its development. Darkening of teeth is noted by people who often take it to treat diseases. tetracycline antibiotics . With prolonged and frequent use, these medications contribute to tooth darkening. As a result, it takes on a yellowish or grayish tint.

If in the region where a person lives, there is a high level of fluoridation of water, that is, it contains more than 1 mg of fluoride per liter, then with constant consumption of such water, the tooth becomes dark, or dark or bright white inclusions appear on it. However, darkening of the enamel is also possible with a lack of fluoride.

People who have never smoked may develop a brownish tint to their teeth after receiving multiple fillings made from copper amalgam. If a person works in an enterprise where non-ferrous metals are processed, then darkening of the teeth may also appear after some time.

Darkening of tooth enamel is observed in older people. These age-related changes are associated with the thinning of tooth enamel and the production of darker dentin in the tooth tissue.

A common occurrence is tooth darkening after nerve removal. This occurs due to poor-quality installation of the filling. There may even be darkening of the gums around the tooth. It is possible that the dentist did not adhere to the correct filling technology during the treatment of the tooth and did not sufficiently treat the tooth with disinfectants. To prevent subsequent darkening at the base of the tooth, the disinfection solution must penetrate the upper part of the tooth root so that whitening occurs inside the canal. Therefore, with proper filling, the doctor should treat one canal for about thirty minutes. Darkening of the tooth near the gum can be eliminated by subsequent whitening inside the canals using a special gel.

Darkening of teeth in children can be associated with various factors affecting their condition. The causes of darkening of teeth are often associated with early childhood caries, which begins to develop under the influence of thermal changes (eating hot and cold food), shock, trauma, and bacteria that multiply in the oral cavity. Because of caries Darkening of baby teeth may also occur.

The condition of a child's teeth is also determined by his diet. The dishes that a child eats should contain a lot of vitamins and minerals. If the balance of consumed carbohydrates, fats and proteins is disturbed, the baby’s saliva composition may change, resulting in darkening between the teeth. This plaque appears again, despite constant brushing of the teeth. In this case, it is important to definitely change your diet in order to achieve an optimal nutritional balance, in particular, limit the amount of sweets consumed.

How to get rid of darkening of tooth enamel?

It should not be assumed that darkening of tooth enamel is exclusively cosmetic problem . Over time, dental diseases can cause a deterioration in the general condition of the body. In most cases, a dentist will help restore the color of your teeth. In addition, tooth enamel treatment is often required to restore color. Initially, the dentist conducts an examination and makes a diagnosis, determining whether the patient has developed erosion of tooth enamel or crack in tooth enamel . Sometimes the cause of darkening is thinning of tooth enamel , and the child may experience hypoplasia of enamel of primary teeth . Depending on the reasons for the darkening of the teeth, further treatments or whitening procedures are carried out.

Enamel hypoplasia in children is associated with its underdevelopment. Depending on the severity of the disease, the enamel may either become thinner or be completely absent. This disease is very common in modern children. Its main complication is the very rapid development of carious processes in several teeth at once. The reasons for this phenomenon are the influence of unfavorable factors during the period of bearing a baby, as well as immediately after its birth. Even after treatment of baby teeth, the consequences of hypoplasia in the form of spots, grooves, and darkening still remain. Later, defects in permanent teeth are corrected using microprosthetics.

Erosion of tooth enamel often develops under the influence of increased saliva secretion . More often, such a defect in tooth enamel is observed in people suffering from thyroid dysfunction. Depending on the degree of erosion, phosphorus and calcium supplements and vitamin complexes are prescribed. Erosion of tooth enamel is treated with special preparations containing fluoride and calcium.

If the darkening of tooth enamel was caused by external reasons, then it can be eliminated with the help of either professional whitening in a clinic or by carrying out certain whitening procedures. With the help of professional whitening, plaque is removed from the teeth, which helps restore the natural tone of the tooth enamel. However, it should be remembered that bleaching is a fairly radical procedure and should not be carried out too often. Modern dentists carry out whitening using ultrasound, laser, chemical and lamp bleaching.

If the patient does not experience darkening of the enamel, but a change in the color of the inner layer of the tooth, then they will help overcome this defect veneers or lumires . These onlays, which the dentist fixes on the teeth, allow you to improve not only the color of the tooth, but also the shape of the crown. If the darkening of the tooth is severe, the dentist may recommend dentures.

You can get rid of darkening of tooth enamel at home by regularly using special toothpastes, as well as by using some folk recipes, which are based on baking soda, a solution of hydrogen peroxide, ground, etc. However, such procedures cannot be carried out frequently, since the quality The enamel of the teeth gradually deteriorates. It is advisable to use them if the darkening of tooth enamel is associated with the consumption of coffee, tea and other products that stain the tooth enamel dark.

You should be very careful when using such products, as their effects can ultimately lead to gum injury and damage to tooth enamel. Some natural remedies that allow you to slightly whiten tooth enamel are more gentle. Lemon, wild strawberries, and strawberries have these properties. Their juice can be used to regularly lubricate tooth enamel, but after this, the teeth must be brushed with a paste that contains fluoride.

By the way, special toothpastes that have a whitening effect contain enzymes and abrasives. Therefore, their effect on the tooth is very similar to the effect of baking soda. Therefore, under no circumstances should you constantly brush your teeth with such toothpastes.

To prevent a significant change in the shade of tooth enamel, you should remember the following measures: prevention . Parents should teach their children to practice regular oral hygiene in early childhood. If your child’s tooth begins to darken, you should definitely take the child to a dentist for an examination. Caries at the initial stage is treated very simply, and the tooth can be protected from darkening.

Adults should also not forget about the basic rules - brushing your teeth twice daily, using dental floss, and preventive visits to the dentist. You cannot eat very cold and very hot food at the same time. Teeth become yellow over time in people who smoke. Therefore, as an effective preventive measure, it is worth getting rid of such a harmful habit.

Black enamel on teeth is a sign of ill health, and anyone who faces a similar problem understands that something is wrong in their body. But not everyone knows why this happens and what needs to be done so as not to be afraid to smile, showing your clean white teeth.

It must be said that this is the exception rather than the rule, since in adults the natural color of the enamel is yellowish, while in children, milk teeth have a bluish tint. But if tooth enamel has turned brown or even black, this is a reason to look for the cause of this pathology and eliminate it.

Let's look at the main reasons for blackening of tooth enamel

The easiest reason to identify and eliminate is the pigments in the food we eat. Products such as strong tea or coffee, blueberries, beets, etc., stain our teeth, changing the shade of the enamel. Daily thorough hygiene is the best solution to this problem.
Smoking. In heavy smokers, the color of the enamel changes over time - first it turns yellow, and then begins to turn black. This occurs due to the deposition of the resin contained in cigarettes onto the surface of the enamel. The resin, having “settled” on the tooth enamel, begins to gradually destroy it, which leads to its blackening. There is only one way out - quit smoking. If this is not possible, then at least observe hygiene rules very strictly and regularly.
Caries. Small black spots on the teeth are the beginning. Subsequently, the process progresses, dentin darkens and is destroyed, leading to the formation of a carious cavity in the tooth.
One of the reasons for tooth blackening is its trauma, accompanied by damage to the neurovascular bundle.
Tooth depulpation. As a result of nerve removal, the tooth changes its color - it darkens.
Filling the root canal with certain materials that color the tooth.
Endemic fluorosis. This is a disease caused by excess fluoride in the water consumed. It is formed in infancy. The amount of fluorine in water should be within 1.5 mg/l. Endemic fluorosis gradually leads to the appearance of chalky streaks, stains and dark areas on the teeth, as well as the destruction of dentin and enamel.
Congenital lesions of teeth of a non-carious nature. Such teeth have not only a different enamel color, but also a different shape and structure.
Tetracycline teeth. If the mother took tetracycline antibiotics during pregnancy, certain parts of the child’s tooth became dark in color while still in utero.

Child's teeth turn black

Some parents believe that children's baby teeth need not be treated. This opinion is incorrect - the affected baby tooth becomes a source of infection in the child’s body, therefore It is necessary to treat baby teeth. And blackening teeth in this regard are no exception.

Blackening of teeth in childhood can be caused by several reasons.

Early caries.
An excess of fluoride in the water that the baby and his nursing mother drink.
Impaired absorption of calcium.
Excessive amounts of sweets in the child’s diet.
Metabolic disease.
Appearing early plaque.

How to avoid blackening of teeth?

In this regard, simple prevention is necessary. Those who smoke should quit smoking. Use foods that can stain your teeth with caution and brush your teeth immediately afterwards. Be sure to visit your dentist regularly - at least once a year. Teach your children hygiene rules and follow them carefully yourself. Proper nutrition with a sufficient amount of calcium in the diet is not the last thing, if not the main thing, so stick to proper nutrition and include foods containing calcium in your diet. Do not give children fluoride toothpastes. Take medications strictly as prescribed by your doctor.

What to do with already blackened teeth?

First of all, you need to check for the presence of caries and treat it, preferably with the help of modern materials (photopolymers).
A blackened tooth can be whitened. But before whitening, it is necessary to have your teeth professionally cleaned by a periodontist.
Whitening itself can be done in two ways:

At home, a so-called mouthguard filled with gel with 10% carbamide peroxide is put on the teeth. The result comes in 3-6 weeks.
Professional dental whitening using peroxides with a high concentration of whitening components.

Remember that after the whitening procedure, your enamel will become hypersensitive.

In dentistry, there are two types of tooth discoloration. Darkening of the tooth itself and plaque on its surface. This is not the same thing and these two problems are caused by different factors.

Here we will analyze the appearance of black pigmented.

All shades of gray

Despite the fact that dark plaque on teeth is quite common, both in adults and women, the majority of the population does not understand that this is associated with certain consequences, the elimination of which requires knowledge of methods to combat them.

Black teeth are the concentration of a significant number of different small elements on the enamel of teeth, in the spaces between them, in pockets under the gums and in other areas of the dental cavity with shades from light dark to black, from specks and dots to complete blackening.

The darkening of teeth is caused by fungi, and it is very difficult to remove such plaque, as it sticks to the tooth enamel.

It is difficult, including specialized dental treatment methods. But when the main cause is eliminated, the blackening goes away on its own.

All the reasons that can trigger the problem

If teeth turn black, then this is in any case associated with a person’s lifestyle and signals health problems.

What risks do adults take?

Black plaque on teeth in adults is not an anomaly. As a rule, the process of its formation is long and it appears when basic oral hygiene is not observed. Basically, dark teeth are a consequence of harmful habits.

Why do adults' teeth turn black?

Children at risk

The prerequisites can be different, ranging from Priestley’s plaque and ending with acquired diseases and the dominance of foods containing a high percentage of sugar in the child’s menu.

The best way to identify such problems is not with a dentist, but with a gastroenterologist.

Full list of provoking factors:

Priestley's plaque is a process of vital activity of special microbes;
lack of calcium;
caries provokes the appearance of;
dysbacteriosis;
non-compliance with oral hygiene procedures;
hypoplasia of tooth enamel;
damage to the dental pellicle;
secretion of iron in saliva;
weak immunity, when the plaque looks like black mold;
use of foods and drinks containing dark food pigments;
various injuries;
– a pathology that occurs due to excessive consumption of fluoride, a high concentration of which can be in drinking water and toothpastes.

Priestley's Raid

Professional help

You can clean your teeth from black plaque using professional methods:

. This procedure painlessly removes hard old plaque without damaging the enamel.
. Light plaque is washed off from the surface of the teeth using a soda jet mechanism. Cons: short-term, about six months, result; does not remove tartar; weakens enamel; provokes.
. The most effective method of influencing dental health, without damaging the enamel layer and causing pain. Long-term, over 4 years, preservation of whiteness.

help yourself

You can get rid of black plaque at home using the following means:

A mixture of peroxide and soda, one teaspoon at a time, apply to a cotton swab and gently massage your teeth with it. Rinse your mouth well with warm water. The method, taking into account the preservation of enamel, should be used once a week.
A tablespoon of crushed bean skins and burdock root Brew with boiling water, leave for several hours. The prepared decoction is very beneficial and healing for teeth. Take the heated decoction, three times a day, 0.3 cups, until the plaque disappears.
DIY tooth powder. Place 2 tablespoons each of dried sage leaves and sea salt on foil. Place the foil in the oven, preheated to 180-200˚C, for 25-30 minutes. After the mixture has cooled, grind it. This homemade tooth powder is an effective healing agent. Apply once a week.

There are special toothpastes for smokers and coffee lovers - ROCS “Coffee and Tobacco”. They help break down protein plaque and protect teeth from staining with nicotine resins. The paste can be used once a day. Do not rinse your mouth.

The darkening of the enamel is hard to miss - unsightly dark spots stand out strongly on a white surface, and removing them with ordinary paste is not so easy. Unfortunately, there are many reasons for the appearance of black spots and zones, and it is not so easy to determine what became the source of the pathology.

The leaders in staining teeth black are nicotine and its resins.

In the article we will look at why the tooth turns black inside and out, how to deal with the disease medically and at home.

As a rule, plaque on teeth is formed due to the fault of the patient himself. This may depend on lifestyle, diet, hereditary diseases, careful regular hygiene and a number of bad habits.

Let's take a closer look at all these reasons.

The darkening was caused by food dyes and natural pigments. The very first in the list of coloring components is nicotine and its resins. People who smoke a pack of cigarettes a day or who respect a pipe or hookah can rarely boast of a snow-white smile, unless immediately after professional whitening. In second place are coffee and strong black tea, the pigments of which complement the natural microbial plaque, giving it a dark tint. Third place is confidently shared by red wine, beets and various food colorings. The soft plaque painted by them gradually hardens, after which it becomes tartar.
Irregular or poor oral hygiene. Many people wonder why adults’ teeth darken for no apparent reason. But the reason is that people do not pay attention to long-term and high-quality teeth cleaning, they ignore the interdental spaces and the inner surface. Rinsing your teeth after eating can wash away some of the food debris, but will not remove the soft yellowish plaque, which over time will necessarily transform into dark stone or caries.
Systemic or chronic diseases. There are a number of diseases that result in blackening of teeth. Most often, this symptom indicates a dysfunction of the liver or spleen, acid-base level. Also, viral diseases, HIV, AIDS, etc. can cause darkening of teeth.
Systemic or chronic diseases can cause darkening of teeth
Congenital pathologies also lead to non-carious changes in the enamel: Pfluger's, Hutchinson's and Fournier's disease.
Long-term use of antibiotics and other drugs. Most often, patients present with the problem after using Tetracycline. Unfortunately, teeth whitening does not always help in this case.
Contact at work or at home with heavy metal compounds. Employees of metallurgical plants often come with the question: “What to do - a tooth has turned black.” The dentist will explain that the condensation that settles on the surface of the body and the oral mucosa includes metal compounds that lead to a characteristic plaque.
Poorly constructed diet. Those who like to have a quick snack often turn to the dentist with dark enamel, because industrial components, preservatives and other chemicals in many products, as well as vegetables and fruits, lead not only to the darkening of the enamel, but also to the deterioration of its structure, the appearance of cracks, caries and other pathologies.
Carious disease. If the composition of saliva changes, or the presence of a favorable environment for reproduction (food debris, plaque, dentures, etc.), microbes begin to actively attack the tooth crown, reaching the thickness of dentin and even pulp. The disease begins with small dark specks on the enamel, so they are difficult to notice. Often, patients realize that the chewing molars have darkened from the inside or, for example, the wisdom tooth has turned black. Mechanical damage to the tooth.
If the neurovascular bundle is damaged as a result of a blow, bruise, fall or other injury, the tooth may not receive enough nutrients and the enamel will begin to darken. An example is a pulpless tooth, the dead tissue of which often changes color.
Fluorosis is endemic. The disease is characterized by bone damage due to increased fluoride content in the body. The component gets there mainly through drinking water and most often accumulates in the bodies of children. Symptoms of fluorosis are light and dark areas on the enamel.
Addiction. The toxic components of drugs systemically destroy the body, not ignoring the oral cavity. The teeth begin to darken intensely, after which they become mobile and fall out.

Black teeth in children

Poor absorption of calcium is one of the reasons for darkening of teeth in children.

Many parents are faced with the problem that their child has a black tooth inside or outside. It would seem that the baby does not have bad habits, the parents actively monitor hygiene, does not take antibiotics, etc., but dark spots appear and appear.

In childhood, there are reasons for darkening of the enamel:

dental plaque (occurs due to insufficient hygiene and dietary habits);
early caries (especially for unprotected baby teeth);
fluorosis (as we mentioned above, children are most susceptible to this disease);
the mother's use of tetracycline antibiotics or other drugs during pregnancy;
poor absorption of calcium, metabolic disorders;
intestinal dysbiosis (in the smallest);
hereditary predisposition;
chronic and systemic diseases mentioned above;
The child's menu consists of a large number of industrial sweets, black tea and sweet soda (especially Coca-Cola).

Remember that caries and other oral pathologies develop faster in children, so you should immediately contact your dentist. Do not ignore the darkening of baby teeth, thinking that when they fall out, the pathology will disappear.

Remember that caries and other infectious foci penetrate to the vascular and nerve endings, causing chronic processes, deformation of the dentition, crooked bite, etc.

Treating Dark Spots with Medical Treatments

First of all, it is necessary to establish why the tooth has darkened and what is the reason.

If we are talking about systemic and chronic diseases, then they should be treated symptomatically by highly specialized doctors.

Fluoridation of teeth in children

Caries is treated with the help of sanitation and subsequent filling of the tooth cavity. Additionally, preventive measures are taken (fluoridation, silvering, etc.) to prevent relapse of the disease.

If age spots appear due to poor hygiene, the dentist will perform hygienic cleaning and select the necessary products for regular care: a professional brush and paste, floss, irrigators and rinses.

If the reason why teeth turn black from the inside are dyes and pigments, then the patient should reconsider his lifestyle. First of all, pay attention to your diet, limit the consumption of “coloring” foods and drinks mentioned in this article.

You should also put yourself before a choice: a beautiful snow-white smile or bad habits (smoking, drinking wine, drug addiction).

The consequences of contact with heavy metals, use of antibiotics and poor hygiene, which manifests itself in the form of hard stone, are eliminated using the procedures listed below.

Removing pigmentation using home methods

Sometimes patients do not have the opportunity to order professional whitening, and then proven home methods come to the rescue.

You can lightly whiten the enamel and remove loose dark plaque using the products listed below.

We looked at why teeth turn black in adults and what to do in this case. The best advice would be to take preventive measures, change your diet and lifestyle, as well as timely treatment of all systemic diseases.

Also, do not forget that regular and conscientious oral hygiene is the key to a snow-white smile.

A tooth with the pulp removed and lack of blood supply is called dead. It usually looks yellowish-dark and spoils the smile. Is it possible to whiten a dead, darkened tooth so that it does not differ from the rest?

Each chewing unit consists of roots and a crown. Below the crown is the pulp chamber containing the pulp called the nerve. Blood vessels and nerve endings pass through the pulp, supplying the tooth with nutrients.

A dead tooth is one from which the pulp has been removed.

After removal of the nerve, strong enamel continues to perform its functions and remains in the gum. But the necessary substances do not reach it, the dentin dries out, and the tissue begins to darken. Another reason for discoloration is damage to the blood vessels when the nerve is removed. Blood quickly stains dentin, and it is useless to bleach the surface using traditional methods.

Whitening methods

How to whiten a darkened tooth? Two methods are used.

Endobleaching

The method involves injecting bleaching agents into the crown. For this purpose, a product based on sodium perborate is used. The procedure is carried out not only when the pulp is removed, but also in cases where it is impossible to change the shade in other ways:

injury followed by internal hemorrhage;
a filling was installed with formaldehyde, which stains dentin pink;
As a result of silvering, the roots darkened.

The algorithm is as follows:

The procedure is repeated at weekly intervals until the result is visible. Typically, 4-5 visits are needed to lighten a tooth. The filling is placed 10 days after the last gel placement procedure.

The result is noticeable on average within two years; after that you will have to repeat the cycle. It is not recommended to conduct more than three courses of intracanal bleaching. Each subsequent cycle increases the risk of crown fracture.

The technique has others flaws:

The result cannot be predicted immediately; it will be clear only after completing the course.
The enamel becomes lighter, but remains dull and differs from neighboring units.
There are contraindications: allergies, pregnancy, caries, gum disease, endocrine disorders, cracks, the presence of photopolymer fillings.

Veneers

Restorative bleaching means covering the surface with thin plates -. They come in two types:

The procedure has the following stages:

The required shade of the plate is selected.
The tissue is sanded off the surface (from 0.5 to 1.5 mm).
Zirconium dioxide veneers are made on a special machine based on a three-dimensional computer image. Porcelain plates are ground in dental laboratories using a plaster cast.
Finished veneers are fixed to the surface using special glue.
Composite plates are made both in the laboratory using an impression and directly in the patient’s mouth, when a filling composite material is applied to the prepared surface.

Restoration is not carried out if there are contraindications:

severe tooth decay;
washability;
risk of injury (during sports activities, for example);
bruxism.

You can install a ceramic crown.
When deciding to install veneers, it is important to understand that you will have to wear them for the rest of your life. The technique involves less grinding than for crowns, but it still exists; It will not be possible to restore your teeth to their original appearance.

Crowns

Another method of restoration is crowns. Doctors consider it preferable for several reasons reasons:

By losing pulp, the tooth loses strength: it decreases by 30-60%. The crown helps protect the tissue and prevent fractures.
Provides protection of natural fabrics from external influences.
Evenly distributes the chewing load, protecting the walls from fractures.
Allows you to save the root.

Crowns vary depending on the material:

According to dentists, the optimal choice for a dead tooth is a zirconium crown, which is durable and ensures a secure fit to the remaining tissues.

All described types of bleaching negatively affect the fabric. When using the intracanal technique, it becomes fragile; restoration methods require grinding. It is better to avoid situations where the enamel may darken. To do this, you need to carefully monitor your teeth and treat them at an early stage of disease.

Sources:

Wulfes H. Modern prosthetic technologies. Moscow, 2002.
Chikunov S.O. Modern aesthetic dentistry. St. Petersburg, 2005.