When it comes to dental discoloration, a yellow tint is often the main problem people deal with. Dark-colored foods and certain lifestyle habits may be to blame, but they can usually be fixed with a simple whitening treatment. However, if your smile is looking gray, then you may be left more confused about why it happens. Here are some culprits for this flaw and how you can get to a gorgeous grin you love.
What’s Making My Teeth Look Gray?
Gray teeth can happen naturally, or they can slowly progress as you get older. You might just have a single tooth, while someone else may have several! Regardless, here are a couple of reasons for this discoloration.
- The tooth itself has died due to trauma or an infection. The damage done might have harmed the nerve and inner pulp, making the structure become a dark gray-blue color.
- Metal restorations, like a silver filling or crown, might be peeking underneath and be more visible than before.
- You have dentinogenesis imperfecta, which is a hereditary tooth development disorder. This makes your teeth blue-gray and weaker than normal.
- Exposure to tetracycline as a child or in the womb may also be to blame. This is an antibiotic, but it can leave a permanent gray tint that doesn’t respond well to whitening.
How Can I Fix My Gray Teeth?
With that being said, any sort of discoloration on your smile may leave you self-conscious. Thankfully, your dentist is here to help get you to an aesthetic-looking grin you feel your best in. These are some choices that you can consider:
- Veneers are thin, durable shells that bond to the front of your teeth. They are customized to your goals, so you can feel confident knowing they’ll look and feel natural in the end.
- Professional whitening is safer and more effective than things found in stores. Both an in-office and take-home kit offer results that are eight shades brighter, the difference being convenience and timeframe. As a reminder, tetracycline-affected teeth may not be able to get this option, as results are often uneven.
- Dental bonding uses tooth-colored composite resin to restore the look of a certain tooth. It’s often a quick and affordable solution if you have one or two teeth that need fixing.
The best way to know how you can get back to a smile you love is by talking with your dentist. They will first find the cause of your gray teeth, then offer a reliable solution for the brighter grin you deserve.
About the Practice
At Medford Dental Arts, you benefit from a team of skilled dentists who look after you and your oral health. We are dedicated to helping the local community feel confident about their grin with cosmetic dentistry. By having a consultation, we can find out the best way to fix the flaw that’s bothering you. If you have gray-looking teeth you want to fix, schedule an appointment or call our office at (609) 953-4300.
