Everyone dreams of having a picture-perfect smile, but sometimes tooth discoloration crashes those dreams. You might be concerned regarding the brown spot on your tooth. Luckily, you can fix your teeth and get back the pearly smile. To do so, you need to know what causes the brown spots on your teeth.
Why is There a Brown Spot on My Tooth?
Usually, brown spots are a sign of poor oral hygiene. However, they may signify underlying health conditions as well. Some reasons for dark marks on your tooth are:
1. Foods & Beverages
Nobody hates a good meal and some drinks. Unfortunately, the food we enjoy so much can leave discolored marks on our teeth. These grey, brown, or yellow spots ruin our smile. Coffee, tea, red wine, and cola are some of the drinks that might be the reason behind that brown spot on your tooth. Other than this, eating blackberries, blueberries, and pomegranates can also stain your teeth.
2. Tooth Decay
The plaque that sticks to your teeth eats away the tooth enamel. The plaque bacteria react with sugar from our meals and snacks, producing harmful acid, leading to brown stains and cavities. Not brushing away the plaque regularly can cause a brown spot on your tooth.
3. Tartar
When plaque stays on your teeth or slowly hardens into tartar, you might notice brown marks. Tartar is yellow or brown and forms along the gum line.
4. Fluorosis
Excessive fluoride exposure is not good for our teeth, especially for children. While we have always heard that fluoride is vital for our teeth, too much of it can result in dental fluorosis. First, it takes a white appearance that can turn brown over time. Severe fluorosis is a rare condition, as it is generally mild.
5. Enamel Hypoplasia
Enamel hypoplasia is a condition where our teeth have less than required enamel. It looks like brown or yellow spots on the teeth with a rough texture. Malnutrition during pregnancy, vitamin deficiencies, maternal illness, and exposure to toxins are some factors that can result in this condition.
6. Root Canal
A tooth with a dead or damaged nerve might turn brown as the tooth’s root darkens. Therefore, you’ll need a root canal treatment for the damaged tooth. It is also possible that the tooth stays brown.
7. An Old Dental Work
Old metal, silver, or white fillings can stain your teeth with time. Moreover, white fillings are susceptible to surface stains that might look like a brown spot on your tooth. Similarly, other old dental work can also cause tooth discoloration.
8. Medications
You might not think of it, but medications can also be the culprit for marks on your teeth. Children who have developing teeth can have brown spots due to medications. Similarly, children whose mothers took certain antibiotics like tetracycline and doxycycline might have stained teeth. So, some medications are also responsible for the brown spot on your tooth.
9. Genetics
Tooth color might be genetic. Many people grow up to have naturally white teeth, whereas others might have yellow ones. Other than this, genetic disorders can also show up as dark spots on the teeth. Moreover, celiac disease is a common culprit of dark spots, especially in children.
10. Nicotine
People who consume nicotine often have brown or dark spots on their teeth. Tobacco products like cigar, cigarettes, pipe tobacco, and chewing tobacco contains nicotine.
What Should I Do?
A brown spot on your tooth can result from several factors. Therefore, you should go to your dentist to get it treated. Our team at Mission Bend Dentistry will be delighted to enhance your smile. Dial 832-895-5110 to contact us now for a brighter smile!