Introduction
Having a smile with bright white teeth is the dream of many. To achieve this, simple and effective methods are used, such as maintaining good oral hygiene or including toothpastes with whitening effects in your oral hygiene.
Despite this, you may wake up one day and notice that one or more of your teeth have taken on a darker shade or even turned black.
Do not be alarmed! Although it is rare and usually painless, it is essential to see your dentist, as this could be a symptom of an injury to your teeth.
In this article we will explain the possible reasons why one or several teeth could turn dark.
Why is my tooth black?
Why is my tooth black?
stains on teeth
It is normal for your teeth to become darker over the years. This is because the enamel becomes thinner and its optical properties to reflect light are altered. However, maintaining good oral hygiene helps prevent your teeth from becoming pigmented and darker than they really are.
Unfortunately, a diet rich in dark foods loaded with pigments such as coffee and red wine is capable of progressively altering the color of your teeth despite your care.
Therefore, it is essential to assess whether the color change is in all the teeth, and with a similar shade between them, or if it is an isolated case. Generally, when all teeth are affected equally, it is due to diet, problems with oral hygiene or habits such as smoking. However, if the discoloration occurs in just one tooth, it may be due to a larger cause that needs to be addressed promptly.
Why is my tooth black?
Why is my tooth black?
Trauma and pulpal death
One of the most common reasons a particular tooth turns dark is due to trauma or accidents.
A strong blow against the tooth is capable of breaking the blood vessels located inside it and creating a small hemorrhage inside the tooth even though there is no fracture.
The released blood penetrates the dentin and gives a dark color to the tooth from within. It is usual for the color change to occur days after the accident and not immediately.
However, a dental accident is not the only reason. Once the dental pulp dies, the tooth also turns dark after some time.
Caries and amalgams
Sometimes it is possible to see dark spots through the enamel depending on the shape of the cavity and its location.
An extensive carious lesion on the back or side of an incisor may show through the enamel, giving it a dark appearance. However, the color change could instead be a restoration.
Although they are not as common today, an amalgam restoration could be the cause of the discoloration. These materials tend to oxidize over time and release pigments that give the tooth a dark gray hue. Fortunately, this does not present any health risk and is only a cosmetic defect.
Tooth color changes are extremely common even with the best of care. However, on some occasions they are synonymous with dental problems, especially when there is only one affected tooth.
It is essential that you visit your dentist to determine the cause of the color change and take the necessary measures. This way you will keep your mouth healthy and your teeth will shine again.
