Black teeth: causes, risks and treatment

1. What causes black spots to appear on teeth?

2. A child with black spots, what explanation?

3. What are the risks associated with a black tooth?

4. How to treat a black tooth so that it returns to its original white color?

The problem of black teeth affects a large part of the population. This phenomenon affects both children and adults. 😰 It finds its origin in different factors. A source of complexes for many people, it is likely to get worse unless adequate treatment is found. Different solutions make it possible to stop the discoloration of the tooth. Overview of the causes, risks and treatment of black teeth. 🦷

The appearance of black spots on the teeth can be explained by multiple factors. Some are linked to the patient's health while others are caused by external phenomena.

Black spots or brown spots : both terms reflect the same dental coloring. However, it is important to distinguish extrinsic tasks from intrinsic ones. The first are caused by certain foods that are colored black or have high acidity (e.g. coffee, tea and soda). ☕️ These products reach the enamel and give the tooth a yellow color. Over the long term and without the right care, yellow teeth turn brown.

We can also observe black lines on their surface, black furrows , etc.

As for intrinsic colorations, they are born inside the teeth. They have either an environmental origin or a genetic cause. 🧬 They can also signal poor health, internal fractures or root canal infection. Sometimes, yellow teeth reflect an excess of certain products in the body. This is particularly the case for fluoride (although fluoride is absolutely not bad for your health in reasonable quantities) and certain antibiotics.

Black discolorations on your teeth are often due to the products you consume. Indeed, some foods and drinks include dental dyes. This is the case, for example, with coffee, red wine, sweets… 🍷

Tobacco use is one of the many causes of extrinsic dental stains. Indeed, tobacco smoke contains many toxic substances that are not only bad for your teeth but especially for your overall health! The most harmful of these remains tar. This is the factor responsible for yellow teeth in some people. In the long term, it causes brownish-brown stains. 😷

Dental caries, to be avoided as much as possible, are one of the factors causing stains on the teeth. They are due to the free sugars contained in certain foods and to bacteria which lodge in the mouth due to poor oral hygiene. 😖

After eating away the enamel, the decay reveals the internal dentin, whose color is darker than that of the tooth. The areas affected by decay darken as the lifespan of the teeth decreases, resulting in the black color. 💀 This can also lead to dental sensitivity to sugar in the longer term.

The main reason for the brown or yellow appearance of teeth is poor oral hygiene . In fact, poorly maintained teeth create a favorable environment for the proliferation of bacteria, in addition to the bacteria already present in the mouth . 🦠 These mainly feed on food residue to form dental plaque.

In the absence of good oral hygiene, plaque accumulates and turns into tartar. The latter gradually invades the gums. Subsequently, it destroys the enamel giving it a brown dye.

In children, black discolorations present on the surface of the tooth mainly reflect fluorosis. 🧪 Caused by an excessive intake of fluoride to the teeth , it is capable of causing the appearance of brown spots on the surface of the teeth. The back molars are the most prone to this phenomenon. It can also cause discoloration of enamel. It is therefore very important to take good care of children's teeth from an early age.

Yellow teeth or gray teeth are one of the consequences of aging. Indeed, as a person ages, their dental enamel deteriorates. 👵🏼The inner layers of dentin are then exposed and change the coloring of the teeth to brown and yellow. To eliminate intrinsic stains, it is essential to consider its cause. Hence the interest in seeking the wise advice of a doctor, in this case the dentist. 🩺

Certainly, black teeth are not painful, unless you suffer from dental hypersensitivity or one of the many disorders causing toothache . However, they are unsightly and tarnish the shine of the smile.

Additionally, dental bacteria can sneak into the tooth and reach the pulp. The latter will then be destroyed. Continuing their course, the bacteria then attack the nerves and blood vessels it contains, completely devitalizing the tooth. 🤭

Without the intervention of a dentist in time, the entire part becomes infected. The infection reaches the bony area of ​​the jaw and creates a dental abscess. 👄

Having black teeth is far from inevitable. Indeed, dentists offer many techniques to solve this problem.

Carried out by the dental surgeon, scaling refers to a medical technique consisting of removing dental plaque and tartar from the teeth . It helps minimize the risk of being affected by dental pathologies such as gingivitis and periodontitis , cavities, severe periodontitis , etc.

However, it is possible to reduce the risks of this disease by knowing the foods to avoid to prevent periodontitis.

As a reminder, scaling at home is strongly discouraged, and it must be carried out by a dentist!

If your teeth are discolored due to decay, the best solution is to go to a dentist. Capable of preventing this evil, the latter can stem it at an early stage . Consult a doctor regularly to avoid any tooth-related pathology. ☝️

As part of each consultation, the dentist will take x-rays capable of detecting the slightest lesion in your mouth. That way he can eliminate it before it gets worse.

Good oral hygiene generally means cleaning your teeth regularly, using the correct brushing method . To do this, it is essential to choose the right toothbrush and choose the right toothpaste. That said, dentists agree on the many benefits of electric brushes compared to manual ones. 🪥

However, it is not a question of using just any electric brush. For adequate dental care, sonic brushes with soft bristles remain the best references .

We also offer at MyVariations an excellent model of particularly effective sonic electric toothbrush . The soft nylon bristles reproduce the vertical movement of manual brushing, but at a rate of 31,000 to 40,000 micro-movements per minute (depending on the mode chosen, because the MyVariations brush offers 5 to suit everyone). 😉

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Tooth whitening refers to a cosmetic dentistry treatment consisting of lightening the discolorations of the enamel and dentin and thus making the teeth whiter . Before resorting to this procedure, it is necessary to seek the wise advice of a dentist. 👩‍⚕️

Teeth whitening requires the use of a gel made from a compound called hydrogen peroxide . Also called hydrogen peroxide , it can damage the tooth if used incorrectly. Only the dentist is able to use it in a reasonable dose.