Tooth discoloration

Tooth pigmentation is a phenomenon that is quite common in both young children and adults.

The color of the tooth is not always determined by enamel alone. And its final color that we see is a combination of shades, both the natural color of the enamel and the deeper layers - dentin. Dental tissue is porous, so any coloring pigment freely enters the pores, thereby coloring the tooth both from the outside and from the outside.

Dentists classify this change in enamel color into: tint staining of enamel, deep change in tooth color, and pigment changes due to old age.

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Causes of tooth pigmentation

The causes of tooth pigmentation are quite varied and dentists divide them into external causes of dark spots on teeth and internal ones.

External ones include:

• Smoking. Nicotine resins present in tobacco penetrate deep and stain the enamel yellowish-brown.
• Coffee. The penetration effect is similar to the previous one.
• Formation of plaque and tartar on the surface - a breeding ground for putrefactive bacteria. Tartar occurs due to the hardening of plaque. And this is a consequence of an incorrect approach to oral hygiene, the absence of solid food in the diet, or a violation of salt metabolism.
• Red wine. The pigments that give wine its rich hue also stain teeth with the same success.
• Black tea.
• And also many products that contain permanent coloring pigments.

These manifestations of tooth enamel discoloration (both in children and adults) are easily eliminated. The complex use of whitening pastes in combination with the procedures offered by dentists in their specialized clinics will help to achieve the desired result quite quickly.

In case of internal causes, tooth pigmentation appears through staining of the deep layers of hard tooth tissue:

• Excess or deficiency of fluorine in the body. If the area where a person lives has an increased or decreased content of fluorine in the water (with a norm of 1 mg of fluorine per liter), then by consuming such liquid, the patient's teeth will darken, or acquire dark or milky-white inclusions on the enamel.
• Some internal systemic diseases can affect tooth discoloration.
• The use of certain medications during treatment, including tetracycline antibiotics. Long-term use of such medications results in the tooth becoming yellowish with a grayish tint.
• Dental filling. The patient can also get tooth pigmentation after this dental procedure. If the filling material is made on the basis of copper amalgam, the filling may acquire a brownish tint over time.
• With age, the thickness of the enamel layer decreases and the body produces a darker shade of dentin, which contributes to the darkening of teeth in older people.
• Removing the nerve and filling the root canal. Not only the tooth itself can darken, but also the gum area in contact with it. This may be caused by improper installation of the filling material - a violation of technology and hygiene standards during the procedure. When disinfecting the filling site, it is necessary to ensure that this agent penetrates the root of the tooth through the root canal, undergoing the whitening process along the way. This defect can only be eliminated with the help of special gels, carrying out whitening inside the canal.
• In children, tooth pigmentation often occurs due to various factors: thermal effects (sharp temperature changes, for example, after hot soup he starts drinking cold compote), injuries, fungal infection of the oral cavity. Due to early caries, baby teeth can also darken.
• In many ways, the pigmentation of a child's teeth depends on the food products included in his diet. It should contain a large number of vitamins and minerals, it is necessary to maintain a balance of proteins, carbohydrates and fats. If there is a deficiency of any of these components, the component composition of saliva changes, which is the impetus for darkening of the enamel.
• Heredity: Some people naturally have yellowish teeth.

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Symptoms of tooth pigmentation

Symptoms of tooth pigmentation are clearly visible to the naked eye:

• Dark, yellowish-gray color of tooth enamel.
• Pale yellow lesions observed on the surface of the tooth.
• Defect of tooth enamel. Visible on one or more teeth are anatomical depressions (grooves) accompanied by color disharmony.
• Presence of milky white (chalky) spots on the teeth.
• The presence of matte, brown-yellow pigment spots on the teeth.
• There are cases when tooth pigmentation is accompanied by an unpleasant odor coming from the mouth. There are also cases of bleeding gums, or the tooth does not sit firmly in the socket and begins to wobble.
• The enamel loses its shine and transparency.

Teeth pigmentation in children

In small children and adolescents, spots of both carious and non-carious genesis are observed. Carious pigment, as well as chalky, can remain intact for a long period of time without becoming a defect. It seems to freeze, stop developing, harden and "heal itself". The same process can occur with a pigmented spot.

Dentists consider non-carious manifestation of tooth pigmentation as a kind of enamel hypoplasia that needs to be treated. Spots are found both single, occupying a fairly large area of the tooth surface, and numerous, spontaneously scattered over the entire surface (the so-called "speckled enamel"). The tooth surface can be pigmented both by spots and stripes, alternating stripes of a natural shade with pigmented stripes. The color of the pigmentation fluctuates from light yellow to dark brown. Less common are brown or black tones of the pigment spot. In more severe cases, dentists observe a combination of color change in the enamel with erosion foci.

Today it is very difficult to find at least one child who has not suffered from a problem related to his teeth. Often they not only darken, but can also become completely black.

The causes of childhood tooth pigmentation may be related to:

• Incorrect position of parents in their approach to children's nutrition.
• Low absorption of calcium by the child's body.
• Failure to maintain oral hygiene and, as a result, the formation of plaque.
• Development of early caries.
• Hereditary and genetic features of tooth enamel color.
• Disruption of the salivary glands.
• Intestinal dysbacteriosis.
• Chronic systemic diseases.
• Fungal infections in the gastrointestinal tract.
• High consumption of sugar and sugar-containing products.
• Failure in the functioning of metabolic processes.
• Disruption of flora metabolism.
• Adults should not use baby's cutlery.
• Taking certain medications containing iron.
• Injuries resulting from mechanical, thermal or chemical exposure.

Many parents believe that it is not necessary to treat baby teeth, because permanent teeth will grow soon anyway. This is not a correct opinion, since the last teeth of a child change at the age of 12 - 13 years. And if baby teeth fell out much earlier, the baby will eventually get an incorrect bite, with all the ensuing consequences, and also (if the tooth that fell out was sick) the socket can become infected and the baby will acquire an initially sick permanent tooth instead of the fallen out affected baby tooth.

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Pigmentation and plaque on teeth

The teeth of a healthy person are white, slightly milky, with slight color deviations - these are pale shades of blue, gray or yellow. As a result of improper dental care and general hygiene of the entire oral cavity - plaque formation on the outer surface of the tooth enamel.

Tooth pigmentation and plaque – their color range may vary, depending on the reasons for the change in enamel color.

• In case of local hemorrhage, if fluid gets into the pulp (as a result of severe hepatitis of viral genesis), the tooth entering the hematoma area may be colored pink.
• Proceeding jaundice can tint the enamel yellow.
• If the need arises and the doctor has prescribed an antibiotic of the tetracycline group to the expectant mother or preschool-aged child, be prepared for the fact that the color of the teeth (both baby and permanent) may change and become grayish-yellow.
• When the pulp is infected, if it is subject to decay, the decay products of this process get into the dentinal canals. This provokes a change in the structure of the tooth enamel - it becomes matte and dull.
• When treating and filling dental canals, the dentist often uses resorcinol - formalin paste or paracin, which can subsequently give the enamel a fairly bright pink tint.
• Smokers' teeth have brown, tan and almost black plaque.
• Blueberries can give teeth pigmentation and plaque a “wonderful” bluish-black hue.
• And so on. As you can see, the color palette is quite wide. And if the tooth has been exposed to short-term external influence, then there is no need to worry too much, the enamel color will recover on its own, but if tooth pigmentation is a symptom of some systemic disease, then treatment is inevitable. But only a specialist can establish this fact.

Diagnosis of tooth pigmentation

In modern clinical medicine, diagnostics of tooth pigmentation does not provide specialists with a large arsenal of tools.

• As many years ago, the dentist bases the diagnosis on clinical symptoms collected during a visual examination of the patient.
• In more complex cases, radiography comes to his aid, allowing the specialist to look at the internal structural structure of the tooth and assess the existing pathological deviations. An orthopantomograph is a special medical device that allows you to get not only a traditional classic X-ray, but also to see the area of the jaw of interest on the computer screen. Thanks to it, many dental diseases are diagnosed in modern specialized clinics. During the treatment, it allows the doctor to assess the correctness of the chosen protocol and adjust it in time.
• Additional methods of examination can also include modern computer methods. Digital equipment is increasingly being used. Radiovisiograph, as well as digital orthopantomograph. Such medical equipment is a step above its non-digital counterparts:
  • The doctor obtains a higher order image resolution.
  • The radiation dose that the patient receives is almost 90% lower, which is more gentle on the patient’s body.
  • Allows the specialist to examine the object of interest from different angles.
  • Using digital equipment, the doctor has the opportunity to save all the images he is interested in electronically in the computer’s memory, which will allow him to compare the results of the treatment and evaluate its effectiveness in the future.
• Microscopy. It is simply irreplaceable in the early stages of the disease. This technique allows, when diagnosing tooth pigmentation, to increase the size of the object being examined by twenty-five or more times. This makes it possible to study the object of interest, its anatomical structure, and the extent of the pathology in more detail. Quite often, a microscope is used for surgical intervention (for example, to eliminate a chronic infectious focus).
• Rheodentography. Allows, with good resolution, to examine the functional state of the dental pulp, as well as differentiate the depth of caries damage. This procedure is applicable when assessing the effectiveness of anesthetic use.
• Electroodontodiagnostics. Using this method, a dentist can assess the condition of the nerve endings of the tooth bulb. A dosed electric current, without damaging the tissue membrane of the pulp, affects the nerve.
• Rheoparodontography. Allows to evaluate the functionality of periodontal blood vessels. It graphically displays the full electrical resistance of tissue forms (its electrical conductivity).
• And others.

Only after a complete diagnosis of tooth pigmentation can the attending physician confidently prescribe effective treatment.

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Treatment of tooth pigmentation

Many people consider tooth pigmentation to be only a cosmetic problem. But tooth enamel pathology can provoke the development of another, more severe disease. And how early the patient seeks help from a specialist depends on the degree of neglect of the disease and the complexity of its treatment. Only a specialist can carry out a course of treatment quickly, efficiently and with the expected result.

Treatment of tooth pigmentation is carried out in a comprehensive manner and depends on the cause that led to the change in the color of the tooth enamel.

Using a special medical excavator, the dentist removes a fairly dense plaque on the tooth surface. The plaque formed by a smoker after a long period of smoking is also removed. The next step is cleaning the enamel with an abrasive paste and a special brush. Doctors warn all those who want to polish their teeth with pumice on their own. In this case, you should not be too frequent and zealous, since this procedure damages the enamel. Therefore, after cleaning, the tooth itself and the gum adjacent to it must be treated with an alcohol solution of iodine or hydrogen peroxide. If the pulp of this tooth is dead, then this method of treatment gives an excellent result.

Erosion of tooth enamel and tooth pigmentation are often provoked by changes in the composition of saliva secretion. It can be observed in patients with a history of thyroid disorders. In this case, the doctor prescribes a vitamin complex and fluoride-containing drugs, as well as calcium preparations (calcium gluconate (10% solution), calcium glycerophosphate (2.5%), calcium chloride (10%)) and complex medical products (remodent and profokar).

• Gluftored

Sequence of application:

• Rinse the tooth surface thoroughly with water.
• Dry with a jet of compressed air.
• Apply the product generously and leave on for one minute.
• Remove excess moisture using a dry absorbent swab.
• Apply calcium hydroxide gel to the prepared surface, after shaking the bottle well. Leave for a minute.
• Rinse with a jet of running water.
• To consolidate the success, repeat this process again in two weeks.
• In the future, to maintain your teeth in normal condition, it will be enough to repeat this procedure once or twice a year.
• After treatment with gluftored material, the surface of the teeth is etched with bonding, selecting it as close as possible in color to the patient’s natural tooth color.

Gluftored has virtually no contraindications, but it requires strict adherence to the order of application of the components.

• Boding

The one-component dental preparation Monobond Plus allows for the creation of strong bonds between the fixing composite and the restorative materials that were used to restore enamel in the case of tooth pigmentation.

This preparation contains a solution of phosphoric acid methacrylate, silane methacrylate and sulfide methacrylate. This preparation acts as a bonding agent that provides long-term chemical bonds between fixing materials and composite materials.

The Monobond Plus preparation is applied to the tooth surface pre-treated with the medicine. The application is carried out in the reverse order. First, to protect the pulp, the enamel is covered with a calcium hydroxide suspension, held for about a minute. After this, the surface must be dried and treated with liquid, again held for a minute, thoroughly dried and again a second layer of suspension is applied.

The only side effects and contraindications of the Monobond Plus drug include allergic reactions to the components of this medicine.

• Remodent

It is used as a rinse. The procedure is carried out after meals and lasts three to five minutes. The solution is made 3% by diluting 3 g of powder in 100 ml of boiled water.

Prophylactically, rinsing with this product is carried out from two to eight times a month for 10 months. For therapeutic purposes, the number of rinses is increased to four times a week. The treatment course is from 16 to 40 procedures. The dental product should not be used by people suffering from a hypersensitive reaction to the components.

• Profocar

This multi-component preparation is also used as a means of promoting the development of a crystal lattice to create adaptive bonds between the drug and tooth enamel. It contains a whole complex of chemical elements and is made from the tubular bones of cattle. It is a transparent liquid that is applied to the surface of the treated tooth.

To consolidate the result and extend the effect as long as possible, after all the treatment procedures, the enamel surface is covered with a caries-preventive varnish. Most of these are fluoride-containing agents. Their advantage is that they provide a more productive transition of fluoride ions from the composition to the enamel. This is largely facilitated by the contact of the drug with saliva. Such varnishes are very effective in case of increased tooth sensitivity, providing it with impenetrable, durable, long-lasting protection. The use of varnish also helps protect the tooth from putrefactive pathogenic flora.

Before applying, the teeth are thoroughly wiped with a swab, cleaning them from saliva and plaque, and dried. The row of teeth is lined with cotton wool rollers. The product is applied with special sticks first to the teeth of the lower jaw, then the upper. The patient should sit with an open mouth for three to four minutes so that the varnish has time to dry. Over the next 24 hours, the dentist does not recommend including hard foods in the diet, allowing the varnish to finally set.

If the pigmentation of teeth is caused by external influences, then it is possible to eliminate this deviation by using whitening pastes or enamel whitening methods, which are used during dental procedures in specialized clinics. The dentist will remove plaque and tartar, and perform a whitening procedure. It will not take much time, but the result is impressive. Modern dentistry is ready to offer several methods of "teeth cleaning" using: laser beams, ultrasound, special photo lamps, and others.

There are also so-called overlays (veneers or lumineers), which are placed over the tooth and fixed. Such a device is used in cases where it is not the darkening of the enamel that is diagnosed, but a violation of the color component of the dentin. These overlays not only visually brighten the tooth, but are also able to correct its shape, approaching the ideal bite. In case of a severe defect, the dentist suggests resorting to prosthetics with composite materials.

If the pigmentation of the teeth is insignificant, it can be corrected at home. To do this, it is necessary to regularly, with the permitted frequency, use special whitening pastes and gels. One of them:

• Colgate Simply White Night Gel

This gel was developed specifically for home use.

The preparation is applied to the enamel cleaned with regular toothpaste and dried with swabs. Separately to each tooth. The product penetrates into the deep layers of enamel and dentin quite quickly, so there is no need to rinse and dry the dentition after the procedure. You need to wait 15 minutes without eating or drinking. After three to five days, the result is already visible. If you use Colgate Simply White Night gel for a long period of time, you can lighten the enamel by three to four tones.

You need to work with the product carefully, make sure that the product does not get into your eyes, and in case of confusion, rinse thoroughly with water. This product cannot be used for children under 12 years of age. The effectiveness of whitening lasts about a year.

There are also several folk remedies for teeth whitening, but it should be remembered that these are quite powerful products, they erase the enamel, so you should not be overzealous and frequent:

• Using baking soda. Lightly wet your toothbrush, dip it in the soda. Then simply brush your teeth as usual.
• Hydrogen peroxide gives an excellent result. Brush your teeth with regular toothpaste, then rinse your mouth with peroxide or wipe your teeth with a cotton swab soaked in the preparation.
• Activated carbon. Crush it and brush your teeth with it. But be prepared for the fact that such a procedure can lead to temporary blackening of the enamel.
• Fruit whitening. There are berries (for example, strawberries and wild strawberries), which are excellent natural whiteners. They can not only be eaten with pleasure, but also clean the enamel. It is necessary to rub the berry on the surface of the teeth, hold for some time. After, brush your teeth with toothpaste, preferably fluoride-containing.
• Eggplants. Eggplants need to be burned over an open fire until a black powder appears. There should be quite a lot of it. They clean tooth enamel with it. But you shouldn't use a toothbrush (it damages the surface a lot), it's better to do it with your finger.

Such procedures are especially effective if tooth pigmentation has appeared as a result of consuming tea, coffee and enzymatic products that cause the enamel to darken.

Prevention of tooth pigmentation

Dark, spotted teeth in the mouth are not aesthetically pleasing, and in order for a person not to feel discomfort during communication with other representatives of society, it is necessary to know that prevention of tooth pigmentation is a matter that may be troublesome but not difficult. And if a person introduces these minor rules into his life from infancy, then a snow-white Hollywood smile is guaranteed.

• First of all, both the child and the adult should receive a complete balanced diet. The diet must necessarily include foods rich in vitamins and microelements. A person must eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, meat and seafood…
• Hygiene of the whole body, and in particular the oral cavity:
  • We brush our teeth twice a day.
  • Rinse your mouth after every meal.
  • Wash your hands: before every meal, after every visit to the restroom and after returning from outside.
  • Each family member should have their own cutlery.
• If dark spots appear, consult a specialist.
• Preventive examinations by a dentist are mandatory for both adults and children.
• Do not smoke, reduce consumption of coffee and strong black tea to a minimum.
• Avoid eating food that is too cold or too hot.
• Do not delay treatment or dental prosthetics.
• Do not let other systemic diseases take their course.
• It is necessary to treat not only permanent teeth, but also baby teeth. Healthy baby teeth are the key to strong permanent teeth.

Tooth pigmentation prognosis

The prognosis of tooth pigmentation largely depends on the severity of the lesion and the disease that causes the change in the color of the tooth enamel. But in any case, the level of modern somatology makes it possible to make your smile snow-white and bright. Stop only for the tools that the dentist will have to resort to in order to return you to moderation in yourself, the comfort of social relations.

Agree, it is much more pleasant to communicate with a person who has a dazzling smile and how comfortable you and your interlocutor feel if the teeth have a repulsive yellow tint and there is an unpleasant smell from the mouth. Pigmentation of teeth gives a person an image of untidiness. Do not bring yourself or your child to this edge. It is much easier to prevent pathology than to treat it. At the slightest suspicion of tooth pigmentation, contact a specialist who will provide you with high-quality and effective help. And you can not throw off the shields the maintenance of hygiene of your body and household hygiene in general. After all, thanks to preventive measures, you can put up a reliable barrier to any manifestations of the disease. And may your smile always remain radiant!!!