Problem: “tetracycline teeth”
“Tetracycline teeth” is a characteristic of discoloration of enamel as a result of taking an antibiotic called tetracycline.
It is used to treat acute diseases caused by various bacteria. For example, pneumonia, acne, anthrax, cholera and so on. Moreover, tooth staining occurs regardless of whether the child himself took the drug, was in the mother’s stomach, or was fed breast milk. The active substances are deposited not only in the dental tissues, but also in the bone structure of the child. The most dangerous thing is that not only the outer enamel of the teeth is stained, but also the inner layer - this explains the difficulty of restoring the whiteness of the dentition.
Not the entire tooth may become stained, but only part of it, depending on which part of the tooth was formed when taking the antibiotic.
Naturally yellow teeth are an indicator of a healthy body.
In truth, tooth enamel is almost completely transparent. A slight shade of yellow color is added to it by minerals, which strengthen its structures and give teeth strength. Dentin is the element underneath the enamel that sets the tone for a smile. By nature, dentin is not endowed with a white tint, because it also contains minerals. And the natural yellow tint of tooth enamel can indicate that:
- A person has healthy teeth, with which there will be no problems for a long time due to their high mineralization, which resists the occurrence of caries;
- Enamel is endowed with a large number of minerals, and therefore is strong and becomes an excellent protection for teeth. But absolutely white teeth that have a slight dullness can indicate that there are not enough minerals in the enamel. And this increases the risk of tooth sensitivity and the development of caries;
- Teeth have an individual structure, and this completely eliminates the similarity of their shades. And due to this, those who monitor their oral health often have a question: why do fangs have a more yellow tint than other teeth? And all because fangs are stronger teeth, which contain the largest proportion of dentin, which is responsible for the characteristic color.
Therefore, if a person has naturally yellow teeth, he can be sure that they are completely healthy. But, if a more intense plaque appears that was not previously noticed, this is a reason to make an appointment with a specialist.
Reasons influencing the occurrence of yellow plaque on enamel
When assessing the condition of the patients’ oral cavity, dentists formulated the following main circumstances that caused the appearance of yellowness on tooth enamel:
- Smoking;
- Foods that contain high levels of sugar, which in turn have a positive effect on increasing the number of bacteria. The products of their metabolism have a detrimental effect on the enamel, the top layer of which begins to thin out and acquire a transparent color;
- Regular consumption of drinks that contain persistent food dyes;
- Age can also become an inevitable factor due to which yellowness may form on the enamel;
- Heredity.
If even just one tooth turns yellow, you should definitely consult a specialist, because this can be a symptom of a very complex disease in the field of dentistry. Without an examination procedure, it is impossible to determine the exact cause of darkening of the teeth. Caries and poor quality crowns can cause similar results.
Smoking
There are substances in cigarette smoke that tend to accumulate and contribute to the darkening of teeth. To prevent this reason from becoming an indicator of an unaesthetic smile, a special toothpaste was created for smokers, but it is not an effective remedy, but professional whitening can easily restore an attractive appearance to teeth.
Food colorings
Coca-Cola, coffee, tea and many other drinks that contain rich dyes stain tooth enamel. The substances in these drinks tend to get into the pores of the enamel and leave a dark tint in them. With constant consumption of these drinks, tooth enamel will have a brown tint.
Sugar
Teeth begin to darken quite quickly if you often eat foods containing a lot of sugar. The oral cavity is saturated with a variety of bacteria that destroy active carbohydrates from food and form acid. This acid tends to have a negative effect on tooth enamel, corroding it and thinning it.
Age
Aging also takes its toll on teeth. Even if a person does not have bad habits and does not drink drinks with persistent dyes, over the years the enamel may become thinner and turn yellow.
Poor oral care
Poor oral hygiene can contribute to the appearance of a yellow tint on teeth. Factors for this phenomenon can be a reduction in the amount of daily dental care, replacing the toothbrush with chewing gum, unsuitable toothpaste, etc.
Heredity
Heredity can also significantly affect the shade of teeth. For example, if the father and mother of the baby have a yellow tint to their teeth, then the likelihood that the child will also have enamel of a similar color is quite high.
Why do children's teeth turn yellow?
There are cases when a child’s yellow teeth immediately come out. Most likely, this color is hereditary, so there is no need to worry, but it would not be a bad idea to contact a specialist with this question. You need to know that there are quite serious factors that affect the yellowing of a child’s teeth, but this danger threatens only older children.
The most common reason for the appearance of yellow plaque on the teeth of children is neglect or insufficient attention paid to cleaning the oral cavity.
Teeth whitening
Thanks to innovations in modern dentistry, people have access to teeth whitening with varying levels of complexity. This procedure will not cause pain in the patient and will go away quickly enough.
Therefore, there is no need to despair if, by nature or for certain reasons, your teeth have a yellow tint - this problem can be corrected.
Expert opinion
Roman Borisovich Alekperov
orthopedic dentist
Experience: 24 years
Today there are various ways to solve the problem of tetracycline teeth. Starting from ceramic veneering to covering teeth with crowns. In any case, you can choose an option that suits your budget. Don’t waste time, get your teeth in order, and get rid of aesthetic problems and psychological discomfort that this dental pathology causes.
Tetracycline staining of teeth in adults
With age, the processes of tooth mineralization and enamel formation are minimal. All minerals and substances do not come from accumulated calcium, but from the outside, from saliva and water, and therefore tetracycline preparations for already formed adult teeth are practically harmless - if you follow the prescribed dosage.
Diagnosis of tetracycline teeth
To make a diagnosis in children, the dentist carries out a differential diagnosis of tetracycline teeth: the approximate time of darkening of the enamel (before eruption or after eruption), the cause of occurrence (pathological or congenital changes, contact with the drug, etc.) is determined. It is also important how quickly the disease progresses, the appearance of the teeth, and its location. Subjective pain with tetracycline teeth is usually absent.
Solution
Option 1: Teeth whitening. If teeth have a slight and uniform discoloration, regular whitening will be effective. For example, using ZOOM 3 technology. As a result of a simple procedure, it is possible to change the color of teeth by 8-12 shades and achieve the preservation of the result for several years. In addition, whitening is quite safe for teeth and allows you to change the shade of enamel even on sensitive teeth. Read more>
Option 2: Prosthetics with veneers. However, in most cases, teeth whitening will not achieve 100% white enamel. In case of obvious staining of teeth, the only effective method of restoring a smile is microprosthetics with veneers. Veneers are thin overlays that are fixed to the front part of the tooth. They allow you to hide all visible imperfections - dark spots, chips and cracks, as well as gaps between teeth and even minor changes in the position of the teeth. Outwardly, they resemble dental lenses and serve to create ideal dental aesthetics. Veneers are created individually and the patient will be able to choose not only the shape, but also the color of future teeth. Read more>
What is important to know about antibiotics
Doctors say the effect of antibiotics on teeth cannot be underestimated. On the one hand, they destroy harmful bacteria, stop the growth of pathogenic flora, and prevent the development of complications, in particular, infectious and inflammatory processes.
In the same dentistry, they are often prescribed after complex tooth extraction, implantation and other surgical procedures. In complex therapy for the treatment of periodontitis, gumboil, cysts, odontogenic osteomyelitis, periodontitis, periodontal disease, alveolitis. They are also prescribed as a supportive and preventative[1] measure for patients with chronic diseases. For example, diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular pathologies. For what? To avoid complications during and after dental procedures, to ensure good and rapid tissue healing.
To whom are they dangerous?
On the other hand, many drugs do not have a selective effect. Many of them destroy not only harmful, but also beneficial microflora, and also lead to a number of negative consequences, which we will discuss further.
However, the most complete negative properties of such drugs can manifest themselves in the following groups of patients:
- for those who take medications without a doctor’s prescription,
- in pregnant women, young children and the elderly,
- for multiple dental problems,
- if you have chronic diseases and weakened immunity,
- if there are contraindications to a specific group of antibiotics,
- if the instructions for use are violated: do not increase the dosage, reduce or extend the course of antibiotic therapy. It is forbidden to take medications together with alcohol,
- with long-term antibiotic therapy as prescribed by a doctor.
Why do teeth turn yellow?
Some believe that yellow plaque indicates health problems.
This is not entirely true. According to dentists, yellow enamel from birth contains an increased concentration of minerals, which causes a change in its color. And if you carefully bleach such enamel, it can destroy your teeth. Although modern dentistry allows us to cope with this problem. Often the teeth turn yellow in those who love sweets. When eating sweet foods, acids are formed in the mouth, causing small cracks to appear on the surface of the teeth. And the pigments present in food penetrate the enamel and color it. It happens that teeth change color when taking tetracycline antibiotics.
However, modern whitening methods can effectively eliminate yellow discoloration (regardless of the cause), leaving teeth perfectly white. Although some stubbornly believe in the power of whitening toothpastes and diligently try to “scrub off” the yellow plaque. Or they test old “grandmother’s” recipes for effectiveness.
Some at-home teeth whitening methods can actually improve the condition of your teeth, but may cause damage to your teeth in the short term or at all. That is why we recommend not to experiment with your teeth, but to consult a dentist. After all, professional whitening turns out to be much more effective and keeps teeth healthy and undamaged. Otherwise, you will have to spend time and money restoring them.
What to do with yellow teeth
Thus, we counted plenty of factors. The question remains - what to do about it? Today, technology makes it possible to solve the problem of yellow teeth quickly, painlessly and effectively. At Dentik we use the innovative ZOOM Advanced Power whitening system. It allows, using calcium phosphate and exposure to a safe diode lamp, to lighten teeth by several tones, without harming their health and guaranteeing a long-term effect. The specialist will also advise you on how to properly care for your whitened teeth and give you a set of home care products.
Contact our clinic and take advantage of this great opportunity! A dazzling smile is simple and safe!
