The Story Behind Translucent Teeth

23 May The Story Behind Translucent Teeth

Our teeth as we get older will gradually deteriorate over time. This is naturally occurring due to the reduction in calcium, however, there are instances where your teeth can become transparent due to certain lifestyle factors. While teeth should be opaque normally, there are some people who may notice that the edges of their teeth are translucent. The common signs and symptoms of tooth discoloration include:

• The fading or discoloration of white teeth
• The reduction of white color in the edges of the teeth
• Translucent teeth edge with smoky with colored teeth
• Translucent edges that chip easily

There are many possible causes of translucent teeth, some of these causes include:

• Conditions such as Celiac disease can lead to poor enamel development. This can give your teeth a pitted appearance, and it can also lead to banded discoloration or a translucent appearance.
• Enamel hypoplasia can thin out the tooth surface, as it affects the development of your teeth. This condition affects your teeth from the very early stages and can cause hypomineralization, which is the loss of minerals from the tooth enamel, and this can give your teeth a translucent appearance.
• Conditions such as bulimia, morning sickness, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can erode the tooth enamel due to the exposure of stomach acid.
• Acidic foods and drinks can also erode your tooth enamel, giving you the appearance of translucent teeth.

While genetic conditions should be handled by your family doctor for direct treatment, there are precautionary measures you can take in the meantime. Anytime your mouth is exposed to stomach acid in any way, be sure to rinse your mouth out with water. However, when acid exposure happens, you should wait at least 30 minutes before you brush your teeth. You can damage the enamel on your teeth by brushing too soon. In addition, anytime you eat or drink anything acidic rinse out your mouth with water in order to rinse away any residue. Although, you should limit your consumption of acidic foods and beverages such as soda and fruit juice in order to help prevent lasting effects on your mouth.

Unfortunately, once the enamel is lost, it can’t be replaced, but there are treatment options available to help restore your teeth. While your dentist will determine the appropriate treatment method, the most common options are teeth whitening, veneers, or bonding. Don’t let translucent teeth get you down, there is still hope to bring back the color of your teeth!

It doesn’t matter if your teeth have always been this way, or this is a new feature of your smile, be sure to make an appointment with your dentist for an examination.