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Discoloration of teeth, mainly in front teeth, often becomes an important aesthetic and even life problem for patients. Discoloration can affect both teeth with vital and non-vital pulp. Many factors (inside and outside the body) have an influence on the formation of discoloration. The disease may affect a single tooth or the entire dentition.
Teeth discoloration
Tooth discoloration is a change in the color and saturation of the tooth color, regardless of the cause. Discoloration is influenced by a wide variety of extracorporeal factors resulting from the deposition of dye deposits adhering to the tooth and intracorporeal factors in which dye particles are present in the internal tooth structures, usually due to certain systemic conditions or taking certain medications. Discoloration can include teeth with vital as well as dead pulp. Moreover, the discoloration may concern both deciduous and permanent teeth, and may include the entire dentition, a certain group of teeth or a single tooth. If one tooth is discolored, the cause is local. Discoloration can have a wide range of colors, from very light (chalky) discoloration to black. Often it is the color of the discoloration and the distribution of the changes that indicate the possible cause of discoloration. The medical history with the patient is also important in finding the cause.
- Discoloration of teeth with vital pulp is associated with congenital enamel defects, as a consequence of preparations taken during the formation of teeth, e.g. tetracyclines, or as a consequence of diseases experienced during this period, also after a tooth injury. The whitening effect of teeth with vital pulp is much smaller than that of root canal treated teeth. Besides, very often the whitening effects are only temporary. It is believed that discoloration can be removed as long as it only affects the enamel.
- Discoloration on teeth with dead pulp may be caused by pulp gangrene, sometimes with preparations used for treatment or with materials filling the root canal. It is possible to whiten such teeth, but the teeth must not be weakened with large amounts of fillings, and the tooth should be subjected to radiological inspection.
Proper oral hygiene is always very important in the prevention of discoloration. The most convenient and effective are sonic toothbrushes, a wide selection of which can be found at Medonet Market. We recommend, among others:
- Sonic toothbrush Evorei Sonic 2,
- Sonic toothbrush Evorei Sonic One.
Check that each teeth can be whitened.
Types of discoloration and their possible causes
1. White discoloration of the teeth – may be a consequence of an injury that occurred at the stage of enamel formation. In addition, white discoloration may be a sign of primary caries and appear as a result of enamel demineralization. Then the lesions can be seen in a single tooth or in the entire dentition. Another cause of white discoloration may be a malformation of the enamel, then the discoloration covers more teeth. Another factor is hypothyroidism (in turn whitish-blue color) indicates the thymus and hyperthyroidism.
2. Dark red discoloration of the teeth – may appear due to the use of Riebler toothpaste.
3. Yellow discoloration of teeth – they can attack one or more teeth. They most often appear as a result of an injury suffered during amelogenesis or indicate active demineralization towards caries. Yellow discoloration appearing on most teeth may be the basis of diseases that cause epidermal blistering and hyperbilirubinemia. Also, nutritional deficiencies occurring at the stage of enamel formation may contribute to the formation of this type of discoloration. Another cause is aging.
4. Orange discoloration – most often result from the activity of chromogenic bacteria, which are responsible for the production of various pigments. Such substances are used in endodontic treatment, such as zinc oxide with euphenol, Grossman’s cement may contribute to the appearance of red and orange pigmented lesions.
5. Pale pink discoloration – is usually observed after the patient has applied certain formulations, e.g. Tubli-Seal. Congenital porphyria can also be a factor in the formation of pinkish discoloration.
6. Brown discoloration – may appear as a result of a diet that contains a large amount of dyes, e.g. coffee, coca-cola, tea. Brown discoloration is very often observed in heavy smokers of cigarettes and marijuana, and people who take iron supplements on a daily basis. Intrinsic causes of brown pigmented lesions include injuries at the stage of enamel formation as well as injuries to the tooth pulp or caries. Brown discoloration on most teeth is observed in people treated with tetracycline antibiotics and in severe fluorosis with porphyria.
For discoloration, try ApaCare Zahncreme Remineralizing Toothpaste for discoloration, which you can buy at a favorable price on Medonet Market.
In summary, tooth discoloration is caused by the following factors and ailments:
- cystic fibrosis of the pancreas (brown-gray discoloration),
- congenital porphyria (disorders of metabolism affecting the formation of discoloration from pink-brown to dark brown),
- hormonal disorders (the color of discoloration depends on what hormones upset the balance of the body),
- alkaptonuria (genetic disease)
- hyperbilirubinemia,
- age – along with it, the teeth become darker, which is related to the natural mineralization of the enamel,
- inflammatory / traumatic changes in the tooth pulp,
- filling the root canals of iodoform or resorcinol-formalin pastes,
- tooth decay,
- smoking cigarettes and marijuana,
- consuming products and stimulants that contain coloring properties (coffee, tea, red wine, cola, some juices),
- lack of proper oral hygiene,
- drinking decoctions of certain herbs,
- materials used during dental treatment (e.g. silver nitrate),
- the use of certain medications and antibiotics (especially in children).
Discoloration can be fought in various ways, and many people choose to whiten their teeth using home methods or at the dentist’s.
How to whiten your teeth?
Among other things, it is used for teeth whitening urea peroxideespecially during treatment prescribed by a dentist for home use. Then a 10-15% urea peroxide gel is used, which reacts with water to form hydrogen peroxide. As a result, oxygen radicals are released, which eliminate discoloration and whiten the tooth.
Another substance used to whiten teeth is hydrogen peroxide in the form of Superoxol and pyrozone. The first is 30% hydrogen peroxide in pure distilled water. It is a colorless liquid that should be kept away from high temperatures as it may explode. This solution decomposes when the bottle is opened. Superoxol should be used with caution as it can burn soft tissues. The second Pyrozone formulation is a 25% solution of hydrogen peroxide in ether. It has very strong caustic properties, so be very careful when using it. Contact of the preparation with the skin or mucosa is manifested as a burning burn.
The final agent used to whiten teeth is sodium perborate, which is a powder that comes in a variety of forms. The dry form of sodium perborate is stable, only as a result of acid or high temperature it decomposes into hydrogen peroxide and oxygen radicals. Contrary to Superoxol, this agent produces a much greater amount of oxygen radicals, thanks to which it whitens teeth more effectively. Also, when using sodium perborate, special care should be taken to avoid burning the mucous membranes or eyes.
Teeth whitening techniques distinguished based on the vitality of the teeth:
1. External whitening (live teeth) including: whitening strips, whitening technique using heat or light, microabrasion technique, overlay whitening technique (at night).
2. Internal whitening (dead teeth) including: Walking Bleaching technique and thermocatalytic whitening with the use of heat and / or light.
Microabrasion technique – consists of using a paste containing abrasive, commercially available abrasives or pastes containing acid (18% or 36% hydrochloric acid solution) and pumice. These methods allow you to get rid of white, yellow and brown spots and enamel irregularities.
Night overlay technique – it is considered an easy and safe way to lighten discolored teeth. This method is based on the patient wearing an individually fitted overlay filled with a sticky 6% urea peroxide solution for 8 to 10 hours a day.
Whitening stripes – we distinguish two types depending on the bleaching substance they contain: hydrogen peroxide and urea peroxide with 5,3% concentration.
Thermocatalytic technique (heat and / or light) – similar to the method used in external bleaching; the substance in the form of Superoxol is evenly applied to the labial surface of the tooth and inside the pulp cavity, and then light or heated dental instruments are used.
Technika „Walking Bleaching” – it is a method of internal whitening, which is used to whiten discolored teeth as a result of the death of the pulp before the implementation of root canal treatment or after root canal treatment.
Internal whitening should not be used by people who suffer from tooth decay. In such people, a complete restoration of the tooth is recommended. In addition, people whose teeth have certain abnormalities in the periodontium or apical area should not undergo internal whitening as well. Particular attention is also paid to a properly filled root canal, which prevents the bleaching substance from reaching the periapical tissues.
Read also: Teeth whitening
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