Treating Tooth Stains Caused by Antibiotics

If your teeth have gray or dark brown stains but you’re careful to avoid foods and drinks that cause discoloration, then they might result from something other than diet. Unfortunately, your stains may be from taking an antibiotic called tetracycline as a child. The good news is that there are options available to treat these stubborn stains.

Tetracycline was developed as an alternative to penicillin, and it was a welcome addition as a medication to successfully fight bacteria. When it was first approved, experts did not know the long-term dental effects of the drug. After years in existence, it became obvious that tetracycline can cause tooth stains on teeth that were still developing. That’s why the antibiotic is no longer prescribed to pregnant women or children under 10 years of age. If you took the drug before this was discovered, then you might have the resulting stains.

Antibiotic stains can cover your entire tooth or just affect portions of it. It does not affect the strength or health of your teeth. Mainly it is an aesthetic issue that people find embarrassing or unattractive. That’s where treatment to improve the appearance of these stains comes into play.

There are several choices for handling tetracycline stains. Your dentist should be able to recommend the option that might work best for you depending on the severity of your stains.

  • Teeth whitening – If your stains aren’t severe, bleaching your teeth may be enough to remedy the problem. Professional whitening methods are best because they are stronger and more effective on noticeable stains.
  • Bonding – Tooth colored resin can be applied to the surface of your teeth to hide stains. If your stains are very dark, whitening methods may be performed before bonding to help ensure the stains aren’t visible through the bonding material.
  • Veneers – Badly stained teeth can only be helped with dental veneers, which are thin porcelain shells adhered to your teeth. Veneers provide the most coverage in hiding problems with the teeth underneath.

 

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