Normal teeth are opaque white or pearly white but there are people who have translucent teeth. Some people are born this way although for some, it is something that develops over time. Some may not take this seriously but it could be a signal of a serious underlying issue with your teeth or health. In most cases, it is a sign that the enamel of your teeth is thinning out and you need to take urgent measures to correct and restore it.
What Causes Translucent Teeth?
The translucence in your teeth could be due to a number of reasons. A common cause is acid erosion. If your diet is too acidic, these acids will erode the enamel gradually and with time, they will begin exhibiting translucency.
The acid erosion is not just as a result of your daily acidic food intake. It could also be due to the exposure of your teeth to the stomach acid if you are suffering from a condition such as gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD. Other conditions such as bulimia or morning sickness may also expose your teeth to the stomach acid that erode the enamel and lead to the translucence of your teeth.
Translucent teeth could also be due to conditions that cause poor enamel development such as the Celiac disease. There are certain genetic conditions that can also cause enamel hypoplasia which gradually leads to the thinning out of the tooth enamel. A condition like this will affect the enamel development from a very young age leading to hypomineralization. This is a condition where your teeth surface loses minerals and eventually becoming translucent.
It is not easy to pinpoint the actual cause of translucence in teeth so it is always advisable to visit a dentist for accurate diagnosis.
How To Prevent Translucent Teeth
While the genetic effects such as the Celiac disease cannot be prevented, their effects such as acidic erosion can be managed. You can prevent the acids from eroding the enamel of your teeth by cutting down on the consumption of acidic foods such as sodas, fruit juice and various other beverages with a high acid content. In case you have taken something acidic, ensure you rinse your mouth immediately with clean water.
If you have health conditions that are exposing your teeth to stomach acid reflux, see a doctor for prompt treatment. In case you are suffering from any of these conditions and are experiencing acid reflux or vomiting episodes that are exposing your enamel to acidic corrosion, make sure you rinse your mouth immediately with clean water to clear off the excess acid.
Seek Treatment Options
Prevention is always better than cure but if the damage to the enamel on your teeth is significant, you may need to seek treatment options for your translucent teeth. There are numerous treatment options available which are geared at restoring the enamel since it cannot re-grow naturally once the erosion has happened over time.
A common option is that of the enamel remineralization where the doctor injects calcium phosphate, Recaldent and sodium fluoride into your enamel after opening tiny pores on the surface. These compounds will act as the enamel and with time boost the appearance, sensitivity and strength of your teeth. The result is teeth that are not just whiter but also resistant to acidic erosion and even tooth decay. After the treatment, the teeth will also be less sensitive.
If you are looking for a cosmetic treatment that simply eliminates the translucency and boosts the appearance of your teeth, you can go with the veneers. These are simply inserted on top of the enamel to hide the translucency.