Tooth trauma can cause a tooth to darken. The darkening is caused by injury to the tooth, but it doesn't necessarily mean that the injury is serious. Sometimes, a tooth darkening is basically equivalent to a bruise. There's been some minor damage to the tooth pulp, the living part of the tooth.

What causes a tooth to darken?

Aging: As you age, the outer layer of enamel on your teeth gets worn away exposing the yellow dentin. Your tooth dentin also grows as you age, which decreases the size of the pulp. The translucency of the tooth reduces, making it look darker. Genetics: Thicker and whiter enamel runs in some families.

What does it mean when one tooth is darker than the rest?

When a tooth goes dark, this means that the nerve has been damaged. Our bodies have a natural defense mechanism that causes the nerve to lay down an increased amount of internal tooth structure which could make it look a different color than the rest of the teeth.

What should I do if my tooth is turning black?

Teeth owe their color to the high amount of calcium found in the outer layer of the teeth, known as the enamel. Over time, additional elements left behind by foods and drinks can start to make teeth yellow or gray. If the teeth turn black, however, a person should visit a dentist as soon as possible.

Can you fix a darkened tooth?

The easiest and most conservative step is to have it internally bleached. A root canal is required in order to help open the tooth and allow for the whitening solution. Over a week or two the tooth will lighten. The main drawback to this is that sometimes this bleaching method will not totally lighten the tooth.

Do You Have a Dark Tooth? Here's the Fix!

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Can a dying tooth be saved?

A dead or dying tooth should be treated quickly because it can become infected and have negative effects on the jaw, gums and other teeth. “Dead tooth” is not always an accurate description. Although the pulp may have died, usually the tooth can be saved with a root canal.

Can a black tooth be saved?

Treatments for a black tooth

Your dentist can usually remove a small amount of tooth around this area, removing the staining and/or decay and placing a some tooth-coloured bonding material over this area. The tooth bonding will blend in naturally with your surrounding teeth, making the repair invisible.

How can I remove black tooth decay at home?

Can you get rid of cavities at home?

1. Oil pulling. Oil pulling originated in an ancient system of alternative medicine called Ayurveda. ...
2. Aloe vera. Aloe vera tooth gel may help to fight off bacteria that cause cavities. ...
3. Avoid phytic acid. ...
4. Vitamin D. ...
5. Avoid sugary foods and drinks. ...
6. Eat licorice root. ...
7. Sugar-free gum.

How long can a dead tooth stay in your mouth?

A dead tooth can stay in your mouth for up to several days or months; however, keeping a dead tooth may lead to problems with your jaw and also result in the spreading of decay and bacteria to other teeth. Most dentists will recommend having the dead tooth extracted and replaced with a denture, bridge, or implant.

What does a dark tooth mean?

Tooth trauma can cause a tooth to darken. The darkening is caused by injury to the tooth, but it doesn't necessarily mean that the injury is serious. Sometimes, a tooth darkening is basically equivalent to a bruise. There's been some minor damage to the tooth pulp, the living part of the tooth.

Can you whiten a dead tooth?

It is possible to whiten a dead tooth using in-office or at-home teeth whitening treatments. The key is to go about this procedure in a specific way to encourage a more natural appearance to the end result.

How can I lighten one tooth?

There Are Ways Your Dentist Can Make It Bright White! In the dental office: An in-office whitening treatment provides powerful whitening results that can whiten a single dark tooth in an hour or less. Your dentist will place the powerful bleach on the exterior of the tooth and whiten until it matches your other teeth.

Why is my tooth turning GREY?

Dental trauma is the most common cause of a grey tooth. Similar to your knee turning black and blue after a fall, your teeth can also become discolored following an injury. A tooth turning grey following an injury is a sign that the tooth is not receiving adequate blood flow.

How do you fix GREY teeth?

What is the treatment for gray teeth?

1. brushing with whitening toothpastes.
2. brushing with natural tooth whiteners, such as baking soda.
3. at-home tooth whitening strip kits.
4. at-home bleaching kit prepared by your dentist, which contain a bleaching solution and fitted mouthguard.

What does a dying tooth feel like?

When your tooth dies, it loses blood flow and puts you at high risk for an infection. Your tooth will become a haven for bacteria and you will notice several symptoms such as bad breath, bad taste, swelling, and you may notice a bump under your gums. Pain: You will likely experience pain as your nerve is pinched off.

What does a dying tooth nerve feel like?

A tooth which has a dead nerve inside of it will give you some discomfort, tenderness, or ache in the infected area. It is like having a severe frostbite on a toe. When this happens, the blood supply to the toe is cut off, and it dies.

What can a rotten tooth do to your body?

Bacteria from an infected tooth can move to the bloodstream and create a medical condition called sepsis. Sepsis is a blood infection that commonly attacks people with low immune systems, such as patients in a hospital and significantly younger or older people.

What foods reverse tooth decay?

Studies in the British Medical Journal suggest that a change in diet can actually reverse tooth decay. Easy adjustments can be made to your diet immediately like: Consuming more calcium rich foods (i.e. kale, collards, broccoli rabe and dairy) which can help strengthen your bones and teeth.

Can a bad tooth make you sick?

Can a bad tooth make you sick? The short answer is yes, eventually. Poor oral health allows bacteria to build up in your mouth and potentially cause infections. An infection in the tooth is called an abscess, and if left untreated, it can have serious consequences.

Can baking soda stop tooth decay?

While baking soda can't protect your teeth from cavities as effectively as a fluoride toothpaste can, it's still considered a good cleaning agent for your teeth. Toothpastes containing baking soda have been shown to have antibacterial properties, which can help protect your teeth from decay.

Does a dead tooth smell?

A decaying tooth results in a foul smell. If you develop bad breath or notice an odd odor coming from your mouth, you might have one or several rotten teeth. Halitosis is one of the most common indications of decayed teeth. Visit us as soon as possible for an analysis, cleaning, filling or other dental restoration.

What drug turns your teeth black?

As per the Journal of American Dental Association, meth mouth is characterized by severe tooth decay and gum disease, which often causes teeth to fall out or break. The teeth of chronic meth abusers are often blackened, stained, rotting, crumbling, and falling apart.

Is black Tartar a cavity?

At first, these stains may seem like cavities, but they're not. They're also not normal tooth discoloration related to foods and beverages. These black lines on teeth are actually just a form of tartar, also called dental calculus.

How do you know if your teeth are rotting?

Symptoms

1. Toothache, spontaneous pain or pain that occurs without any apparent cause.
2. Tooth sensitivity.
3. Mild to sharp pain when eating or drinking something sweet, hot or cold.
4. Visible holes or pits in your teeth.
5. Brown, black or white staining on any surface of a tooth.
6. Pain when you bite down.

What are the symptoms of tooth nerve damage?

Some of the signs and symptoms of tooth nerve damage after receiving dental treatment include:

• Numbness or lack of feeling in the tongue, gums, cheeks, jaw or face.
• A tingling or pulling sensation in these areas.
• Pain or a burning feeling in these areas.
• Loss of ability to taste.