Tooth - abnormal colors

Definition

Abnormal tooth color is anything other than the white to yellowish-white of normal teeth.

Alternative Names

Considerations

Tooth discoloration can be caused by many different factors. Some influence the formation of the enamel, while others cause the staining of enamel. Discoloration may be uniform or may appear as spots or lines in the enamel. Discolored areas may also have a different density and porosity than normal enamel.

Factors influencing tooth color include genetic, congenital (existing at birth), infectious, and environmental. Inherited diseases may influence the thickness of enamel or the calcium or protein content of the enamel. Metabolic diseases (diseases caused by malfunctions in body processes), may cause both abnormalities of color and shape.

Drugs and medications either taken by the mother while pregnant or by the child during the time of tooth development can cause changes in both the color and hardness of the enamel.

Causes

• High fever at an age when teeth are forming
• Poor oral hygiene
• Antibiotic tetracycline use before age 8
• Excessive fluoride from environmental sources (natural high water fluoride levels) or overuse of fluoride rinses, toothpaste, and fluoride supplements
• Severe neonatal jaundice
• Porphyria
• Genetic defects which affect the tooth enamel, such as dentinogenesis and amelogenesis imperfecta
• Eating or drinking items that temporarily stain the teeth, such as tea or coffee