You likely imagine shades of yellow or brown when you think of a discolored smile. Those are the colors you often see from a non-white grin, at least in most cases. With that said, you may not know what to make of blue or gray teeth; pearly whites with those tones aren’t as common. The good news is that your Temple dentist can help you out. So, read on to learn the causes and solutions for gray teeth.
What’s Behind Your Gray Teeth?
Rather than just one, gray teeth can have various causes. The most common of these include the following:
- Natural Coloring – Some people are simply born with gray teeth. Based on current studies, certain genetic conditions can make a smile look blue-gray.
- Dental Restorations – Occasionally, dental restorations like fillings can make teeth look gray or blue.
- Antibiotic Exposure – If you were exposed to tetracycline in the womb, your smile may turn a blue-gray color as a result. This coloring is permanent and isn’t affected by brushing.
- Dead Nerves – When only one or two teeth look gray, they may have died. A tooth will often turn grayish when its pulp and nerves are dead.
How Can Your Cosmetic Dentist Help?
As luck would have it, cosmetic dentists have several ways to treat gray teeth. Two of the best procedures for the condition are:
Teeth Whitening
Though it’s typically used for yellow enamel, teeth whitening can also help with bluish-gray coloring. The treatment should help your smile look white, regardless.
Note that whitening uses a special hydrogen peroxide gel. Once applied, this gel seeps into the enamel and removes stains of all colors – yellow, brain, gray, etc. You’ll just need to watch whether you get the whitening at a dentist’s office or through a kit. Depending on the method, your results will come more or less quickly.
Porcelain Veneers
If teeth whitening isn’t enough, you can always trust porcelain veneers to help. These shells would work wonders and make your grin nice and bright.
Don’t forget that veneers – tooth-sized porcelain shells – fit over the whole fronts of teeth. Given this design, they can hide many smile flaws – chips, stains, cracks, etc. They’ll even hide the grayish shade of teeth once placed, leaving only a beautiful porcelain layer visible.
Now that you know their causes and solutions, see a dentist for your gray teeth soon. Treatment will give you the beautiful, shiny smile of your dreams!
About the Author
Dr. Richard Fossum is a top-tier dentist in Temple, TX, having earned a DDS from the UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry. His many years in the field have given him expertise in preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry, with an eye toward customized dental work. He and his team are also able to help with sleep apnea and sedation services. Today, Dr. Fossum practices at his self-titled clinic and is reachable on his website and by phone at (254)-831-4397.