Does your smile look a bit grayer than it did in the past? You might be confused about this type of discoloration, as it’s often not talked about as much compared to a yellow tint. You might be wondering why it is happening and whether you can do anything about it. Thankfully, your dentist is here to help! Here are common culprits that cause it to develop and ways to fix it.
What’s Making My Teeth Look Gray?
This flaw can sometimes happen as you get older, and it can occur on just a single tooth or more. But these are some reasons you might have it:
- The tooth itself has died because of trauma or an infection. The entire structure can turn into a bluish gray color when this happens.
- The metal parts of your restoration are showing. Silver fillings or crowns with a metal base can become exposed over time, letting the shiny parts peek through.
- You have dentinogenesis imperfecta. This is a hereditary tooth development disorder that makes your smile naturally weaker and appear blue-gray.
- As a child or in the womb, you were exposed to tetracycline. This antibiotic can be the cause in some cases, but it doesn’t respond very well to whitening.
Is There Anything I Can Do About Gray-Looking Teeth
Since your gray grin can leave you self-conscious, you might wonder what ways you can get it fixed. Thankfully, there are several options you can consider, such as:
- Professional whitening is often the first choice for any type of discoloration. Using a high-quality bleaching gel, it will target dark particles on and within your enamel. Whether you do it in-office or with your dentist’s take-home kit, you can get results that are up to eight shades brighter. However, tetracycline-affected teeth often look uneven afterward.
- Veneers are thin, durable shells that bond to the front of your smile. It hides imperfections underneath, making it a great choice that gives you a dramatic transformation.
- Dental bonding uses composite resin that’ll be sculpted over a tooth to cover any flaws. It’s effective if there’s just a single tooth or two that need fixing while also lasting for several years.
- Metal-free restorations can be considered as well if you have an existing one with metal in it. Opting for the modern version is often very durable and blends in more seamlessly.
Regardless, your dentist is here to help you out. They will get to the bottom of your gray-looking teeth and then give you the effective treatment you need to get a confident smile once again.
About the Practice
At Bradford Dental Care, you benefit from the compassionate leadership of Dr. Thomas Bower and Dr. Yuneisy Vazquez. We are dedicated to helping the Haverhill community get the aesthetic grins they love with cosmetic dental treatments. By having a consultation, we can pinpoint the flaws bothering you and give you a customized plan to get you the gorgeous teeth you dream of. If you have a gray look to your smile, schedule an appointment or call our office at (978) 372-0600.