If you have looked in the mirror and realized that the edges of your teeth have started to become see through, it might cause you some alarm. You could think it was the sign of something more serious. While it is not something to rush to an emergency dentist over, it is something you should consult your dentist over this.
There are some who have always had translucent teeth but in some people, it is an entirely new phenomenon which should be cause for alarm. Our teeth should always be opaque and whenever there is some translucence, there is always an underlying cause that should be examined such as the Celiac disease which is associated with poor enamel development. Here are some important factors to keep in mind when it comes to transparent teeth.
1. What causes transparent teeth?
Translucent or transparent teeth are most often the direct effect of enamel erosion and wear. The enamel is the hard coating on the outside of your teeth above the gums. It protects your teeth from wear as a result of daily use. There are several disorders that can cause erosion or wear to happen, for example, Celiac’s disease and other genetic disorders. They cause the enamel to lose minerals that help to keep your enamel strong. This mineral loss results in transparent teeth and discoloration.
This can also happen as a result of acid in food and drinks wearing down, or eroding the enamel that protects your teeth over time. It is not often easy to tell the direct cause without further inspection, so make sure you talk to your dentist to find out what is happening to your teeth.
2. How can I stop it?
Oral Hygiene is the greatest preventative measure against some of the possible causes for this. You can’t brush your way out of a genetic disorder, but if you are developing translucent teeth from acid in what you consume, you can fight it there. Rinsing your mouth with water or mouthwash after exposure to any acidic foods can help to reduce the amount of damage that they do to you teeth. For more complete prevention, try avoiding those foods and drinks, such as soda, acidic fruits like lemons and other foods with acid in it.
3. Can my teeth grow back the enamel?
Unfortunately, no. Once you have lost the enamel on a tooth, it cannot be regrown or replaced. This is why protecting your teeth from harsh acids is so important. Unlike broken bones or cuts, once your teeth are damaged and your enamel gone, the damage is permanent. Dentists do have options to restore the look of your enamel and provide protection to your teeth, but there is currently no treatment that can replace lost or eroded enamel.
4. What are my treatment options then?
This depends on the severity of the issue.
If your teeth have just recently become transparent, then the loss may not be sever. Your dentist can then use tooth bonding to protect the remaining enamel and fix the cosmetic issue of transparent teeth.
However, if the enamel erosion is severe, your dentist may suggest that you get a veneer or a crown on the tooth to protect it from any further damage.
The biggest take away from this is that you should consult your dentist sooner rather than later with this issue. The longer you wait, the more you risk losing enamel and more severe the erosion can become.