My tooth turned gray after I used teeth whitener | Naperville Dental Specialists (2024)

FAQs

Why are my teeth turning GREY after whitening? ›

Whitening gels use a peroxide, which is great at oxidizing your teeth in the right doses. However, with overuse they can actually do harm such as causing your gums to recede, or making your teeth brittle and chalky. Your teeth can even take on a grey color.

Teeth that turn gray should be examined by a dentist. Your dentist can determine if a tooth is dead or dying and will let you know the best treatment for it. Gray teeth which aren't dying can often be brightened or whitened with at-home or dental treatments.

A singular tooth becoming grey is usually caused by trauma due to deterioration of the tissue inside the tooth, or removal of that tissue via root canal treatment.

Though whitening treatments often work best on yellowed teeth, they may improve the appearance of naturally blue or gray teeth. Your dental professional can explain the results you can reasonably expect from in-office or at-home treatments. Whitening treatments can also improve the color of a tooth that has died.

Can a GREY tooth heal on its own? Generally, it's unlikely that a grey tooth will heal and regain its actual color. Although sometimes it may heal if the root cause is fixed, it's rare.

You can use at-home bleaching solutions, laser teeth whitening treatments, or whitening gels, strips, and toothpastes to improve your teeth's appearance. However, if your teeth are discolored due to being exposed to tetracycline at a young age, your teeth may bleach unevenly.

Following a trauma, the tiny blood vessels around the tooth can burst, releasing blood that ends up inside the crown of the tooth, resulting in the appearance of a grey hue within the next few days. At this point, the tooth is probably still alive and sensitive.

It is a good idea to have your dentist check the filling to make sure it does not need to be patched. If a single tooth is grey or black in color, you may have a dying tooth. This is particularly likely if you have had an injury to that part of the mouth.

The most common forms of cosmetic dentistry that are used to treat discolored teeth include: Teeth Whitening: Whether you choose in-office or at-home whitening, make sure you are seeing a trusted professional instead of using a DIY kit.

Internal Dental Bleaching

The technique involves your dentist or endodontist placing a small amount of extremely strong dental bleaching material inside the tooth where the nerve was. It is placed through the small hole in your tooth through which the root canal was done.

Why is my white filling turning grey? ›

When fluids leak underneath a filling, staining and decay may develop. Leakage may appear as a dark line around the edge of the filling or a dark area underneath the filling itself. White fillings may turn a darker color over time from smoking, drying out or exposure to high staining foods or drinks.

Your tooth enamel is the hardest tissue in your body. But it isn't impenetrable. After the first stage of demineralization, the bacteria in your mouth continues to break down your tooth enamel even further. At this point, you might notice a yellow or grey color to your cavities.

Why Did Your Tooth Turn Gray After Whitening It? There are several things to consider: It may be that your tooth was damaged before you applied the whitening gel to it, and it became irritated afterward. The problem might stem from the whitening gel.

A dying tooth may appear yellow, light brown, gray, or even black. It may look almost as if the tooth is bruised. The discoloration will increase over time as the tooth continues to decay and the nerve dies. If you experience any symptoms of a dying tooth, it's important to see your dentist right away.

Gray teeth stains can be caused by the use of tetracycline antibiotics in children under the age of 8 or pregnant mothers. Tetracycline is an antibiotic medication designed to fight bacterial infections, such as urinary tract infections, respiratory tract infections, gonorrhea, acne, rosacea, and others.

This bunch of nerves and vessels is known as pulp and if it dies, your tooth will turn gray or even purplish. The change in color can be likened to that of how a bruise will change color over time, however, most bruises eventually heal on their own. A dead tooth will not.

If teeth are overexposed to the hydrogen peroxide agent in whitening gel, the outer layers of enamel may begin to wear away, exposing the dentin and soft inner tissues. This results in lasting sensitivity and discoloration, as dentin is a naturally darker color than enamel.