Normal teeth is usually opaque. Your lifestyle, disease and genetic factors may sometimes cause the corrosion of the enamel leading to translucent teeth. Diseases such as the Celiac disease may also lead to poor enamel development which in turn causes the translucent appearance. An example of a genetic condition that may also cause this is enamel hypoplasia which gradually thins out the tooth surface.
Then there are the lifestyle factors that may with time lead to the wearing out or thinning out of the enamel. If you eat or drink highly acidic foods or beverages, you are likely to see a gradual erosion of the enamel with the end result being the translucence. Acidic reflux or the exposure of the teeth to the stomach acid due to conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease and bulimia are also major causes.
An effect of the translucence is that your teeth will lose their natural white appearance and start appearing grayish. The once bright smile is soon transformed into a dingy smile that dims your confidence. Unfortunately, there is little that you can do to bring your natural enamel back but you can go for a few cosmetic procedures that will bring back the bright confident smile. These include the following:
Bonding
Bonding is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure that can help you get rid of the translucence and bring the white back. In this procedure, a composite resin is applied on the surface of the teeth and then moulded so as to fit the shape of the mouth. Once the appearance of resin has formed perfectly, it is hardened and polished to create a nice white appearance. It is a simple procedure that can be done in a single dentist’s appointment.
Use Veneers
Just like bonding, veneers are also a cosmetic option that you can use to camouflage the translucence in the teeth. The veneers involve the application of thin veneers of porcelain on the front surface of your teeth. The process starts with the preparation of your teeth surface through the removal of tiny amounts of enamel to ensure a proper fit for the veneers. They are then cemented in place to give you back your once sunny smile.
Make lifestyle adjustments
There is nothing you can do to “rebuild” or restore worn out tooth enamel as it does not contain living cells. If you will not go for the above two cosmetic procedures, you can also make lifestyle adjustments in order to prevent further corrosion of your teeth. These include:
• Take less acidic foods and beverages. Try to avoid the excessive consumption of soft drinks as these tend to have high amounts citric and phosphoric acids.
• Brush your teeth properly in order to prevent further erosion of your enamels. Avoid being too abrasive.
• If you have acid reflux disease and other gastrointestinal problems, make sure you seek medical treatment.
• Watch out on your fruit drinks consumption as these tend to have a high acidic content.
If you notice your teeth are beginning to look a little different, make a point of visiting a dentist to find out why that is case. They might just make a timely intervention that might arrest the corrosion of your tooth enamel.