Darkened tooth: what it could be and what to do

Darkened teeth are a more common condition in children, which usually occurs after direct trauma to the tooth caused by a fall or strong blow to the mouth, for example.

However, tooth darkening can also happen in adults, and the most common causes include the use of some types of medication, especially antibiotics, root canal treatments or frequent intake of foods or drinks that can stain teeth.

It is important that the dentist is consulted so that the cause of the darkened tooth can be identified and treatment can be started, if necessary.

What could a darkened tooth be?

The main causes of darkened teeth are:

• Tooth blows: when there is direct trauma to the teeth, such as during a fall or a traffic accident or in sports, for example, it is common for the tooth to bleed inside, causing a darker color;
• Cavities: some cavities that appear in the lower part or behind the tooth can cause darkening of the tooth without the characteristic appearance of cavities;
• Tartarus: the accumulation of bacterial plaque can make the tooth darker;
• Use of some medicationslike antibiotics, can have the side effect of darkening the tooth;
• Root canal treatment: although it is more common for the tooth to be dark before treatment, due to the decrease in blood going to the tooth, in some cases, the tooth may be slightly darker than normal after root canal treatment;
• Infection in the tooth pulp: this is a situation also known as pulpitis, which can make blood circulation to the tooth difficult, darkening it;
• Aging: as a person ages, minerals are lost from the tooth, which can become darker.

Furthermore, some lifestyle habits, such as drinking a lot of coffee, using tobacco or drinking red wine very frequently, can also cause a gradual darkening of teeth over time.

What to do

In the case of more temporary situations involving a darkened tooth, such as blows, root canal treatment or tartar build-up, the color of the tooth generally returns to normal over time, making it important to maintain adequate oral hygiene.

However, if the tooth becomes dark due to other causes such as cavities or infection of the tooth pulp, it is very important to consult the dentist to identify the problem and begin the most appropriate treatment. This type of cause can be identified with a simple observation of the teeth by the dentist, or through additional examinations, such as X-rays of the mouth.

After treatment, it is normal for the tooth to return to its previous color. However, if the color continues to be dark, even after a few weeks, the dentist may recommend some type of treatment to whiten the tooth.

1. Teeth whitening

Teeth whitening is typically used to treat stains caused by eating or drinking and can be done in the doctor’s office or at home, with the help of drips created by the dentist.

This type of whitening is not effective if there has been trauma to the tooth or if root canal treatment has been carried out, because in these cases necrosis of the dental pulp may have occurred. In these cases, you can choose to perform internal whitening.

Both external and internal bleaching are not effective on stains caused by taking tetracyclines. Check out some treatment options for teeth whitening.

2. Resin restorations

In the case of trauma, root canal treatment or taking medication that has caused the tooth to darken, resin veneers can be applied to the teeth and then carried out external whitening, in order to improve the results.

However, this type of treatment is only recommended when darkening occurs in a permanent tooth. This is because, if darkening occurs in a child’s baby tooth, it is usually enough to wait for that tooth to fall out and the permanent tooth to grow, which should have a normal color.

3. Porcelain restorations

If the teeth are very dark, they should not be covered with resin veneers, as they will not be enough to mask the color of the tooth. In these cases, you can opt for the placement of porcelain dental veneers.

When to go to the dentist

It is advisable to go to the dentist when there is a suspicion that the darkening of the tooth has arisen due to a cavity, tooth infection, use of medication or accumulation of bacterial plaque, as these are situations that require more specific treatment. In other situations, it is recommended to consult the dentist when the tooth does not return to its normal color after a few weeks or when other symptoms appear such as:

• Intense pain that does not improve;
• Gum bleeding;
• Tooth shaking;
• Gum swelling.

In addition, any other more generic symptoms, such as fever, should also be evaluated by a professional.