Translucent teeth can happen slowly over time for a variety of reasons. Here, we’ll look at some of those reasons and discuss what you can do to stop it from happening.

Enamel Erosion

Enamel erosion happens when the shiny hard protective layer that covers your tooth interior tissues is damaged. This can happen for a variety of reasons, but is usually the result of acids and bacteria present in the mouth that cause decay. One of the worse culprits of this is stomach acids—that’s why acid reflux or morning sickness can cause so much damage to the mouth.

Your enamel may be worn down due to other factors, including teeth grinding. Even brushing too aggressively can impact your tooth enamel. When enamel is eroded, your teeth may become more sensitive or appear to have chips and cracks or have a rough surface. Enamel erosion can cause a transparent look in the affected teeth!

Enamel Hypoplasia or Hypomineralization

Enamel hypoplasia can cause white spots on the teeth that may be translucent or white. Your teeth may even have physical abnormalities to them such as grooves or indentations on the visible parts of your teeth. Enamel hypoplasia is the result of the enamel not forming correctly, sometimes due to overexposure of fluoride, especially as a child.

Hypomineralization is a condition in which the enamel doesn’t receive enough minerals to be healthy. This leads to damaged enamel and translucent teeth. This condition may not be immediately apparent but may happen over time.

Some clues to look for are increasing tooth sensitivity, teeth changing color (becoming darker or translucent), or changing texture. As your enamel wears away, your teeth are also more susceptible to decay. Since enamel protects your teeth, a lack of healthy minerals or enamel hypoplasia can worsen your risk for tooth decay.

What Can You Do?

Translucent teeth can be embarrassing and worrying. Fortunately, you do have options for helping teeth that have already begun to turn translucent. Enamel remineralization may be an option—it’s a procedure done by your dentist to help repair your enamel. You may also choose veneers, which protect your teeth while also enhancing your appearance.

It’s important to prevent enamel erosion as much as you possibly can by taking care of your teeth. Enamel erosion can be prevented by brushing gently, eating a healthy diet, and visiting your dentist. Talk to your dentist about how healthy your enamel is and what you can do to improve it.

If you’re seeing a change in your teeth that makes them appear more transparent, you could be seeing signs of enamel damage. Talk to your dentist about your enamel. Teeth are not supposed to appear translucent and this condition could be affecting your dental health. Make an appointment to get help today!

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Why else should you visit your dentist this month? Here are the top three reasons December is the best time to get that last check-up in!

Cosmetic Dentistry for the Holiday Season

Maybe you’re avoiding seeing your dentist because you’re embarrassed about your smile. If it’s been a little while since you’ve seen the dentist and you need cosmetic dentistry work done, December is the perfect time to go before the holidays! Your dentist is an experienced professional who sees all types of smiles. Getting the treatment you need shouldn’t be impossible because you have dental anxiety.

Talk with your dentist about what experience he or she has in treating patients with dental anxiety and smiles who need treatment like yours. Chances are, your dentist will be friendly, open, and professional about helping you restore your smile and getting done any cosmetic dentistry work before the holidays. You’ll be amazed at how fabulous your smile can look for family and friends this year!

Get Your Second Check-Up and Cleaning

If you’ve gotten a check-up and a professional teeth cleaning once already this year, that’s great! However, it’s ideal to visit your dentist at least twice a year to ensure your teeth are healthy. Since no two smiles are the same, your dentist may recommend that you come in more or less often, depending on how healthy your smile is.

Regardless, getting that second check-up in December is perfect timing. During your check-up, your dentist can ensure your smile is healthy by checking for signs of tooth decay, gum disease, and even oral cancer and TMJ disorders. Your dentist will also professionally clean your teeth, removing surface stains and helping your smile look its best and brightest for the holiday season!

Start the New Year Right

If improving your oral care is on your New Year’s resolutions list, visiting your dentist in December makes your goal all the more achievable. Small practices you incorporate into your oral health routine like flossing, using mouthwash, or even getting a new toothbrush can help improve the health of your smile! When you visit your dentist in December for a check-up, you’re starting the New Year right when it comes to oral healthcare. Nothing is more attractive than a healthy smile—so make it to your dentist before January to start a healthy New Year!

This December, schedule an appointment with your dentist to get that second check-up in, talk about cosmetic dentistry, and get a professional cleaning to start the New Year off right. You can ensure a healthy smile all year long for 2017, so don’t put off that dental appointment this December. Happy New Year!

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There is hope for you if you’re missing all of your teeth or most of them—custom dentures can fully restore your smile and give you the glow you need to smile brightly this holiday season!

Get a Fully Functional Set of Teeth

Custom dentures allow you to use your teeth again! You’ll be able to chew properly and eat all the foods you used to with your natural teeth. Since custom dentures are made specifically for your unique oral structure, they’ll fit seamlessly and be secure in your mouth. Having a fully functional set of teeth can transform the way you think about eating, smiling, and enjoying life. Don’t worry about eating with family and friends this holiday—your new custom dentures will enable you to enjoy and be worry-free!

Speak and Smile Confidently

When natural teeth are gone, it’s easy to feel self-conscious about the smile that you present to the world. If you’re missing all of your natural teeth, you may avoid smiling totally or be afraid to speak in public. With your new custom dentures, your teeth will look totally natural in your mouth, allowing you to speak and smile with confidence this holiday season.

Our teeth help us to pronounce words correctly and speak with certainty. Without them, you may begin to feel embarrassed about the way you speak. Your custom dentures will change all of that. You’ll be able to speak again and not feel ashamed or nervous—you’ll have a gorgeous smile to show off in addition to your speech!

Look and Feel Younger

Missing teeth can make you appear older. This is because they cause your facial muscles to sag as your jawbone is no longer being supported by your teeth, which stimulate the jawbone to remain strong and healthy. Your jawbone will deteriorate over time without stimulation, causing your face to appear sunken and the skin to sag.

With custom dentures, you can get your youthful facial structure back. The dentures allow your muscles to be supported and keep you looking and feeling young. When you have a new smile to show the world this holiday, you’ll wonder why you didn’t get dentures sooner!

Schedule an appointment with your dentist to talk about custom dentures. You can restore your smile this holiday season and enjoy your favorite foods, speak and smile with assurance, and look and feel even younger. Dentures can change your life— just in time to see family and friends this holiday season!

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Tooth Decay

Tooth decay in children is pretty common. Children are often exposed to sugary beverages and snacks and lack the ability to properly care for their teeth, so tooth decay sets in. This is why regular visits with your child-savvy dentist are so important! Tooth decay could be causing discoloration of your child’s tooth, so get a check-up to see if your child needs treatment for decay.

Tooth Injury

Toddlers are always exploring and learning about the world they live in—this also means they’re prone to fall! Has your toddler experienced a tooth injury? It could have happened and you may not have noticed any visible effects of the fall or injury, but often teeth cracks or chips can be hard to spot. Your dentist can help identify if any tooth injury has occurred and is causing the discoloration!

Soft Enamel

Tooth enamel can get damaged for several reasons. Your child could have a mineral deficiency, or he or she may have too much plaque or bacteria that’s attacking the enamel and causing it to soften. Acidic and sugary foods can also be responsible for soft enamel. Since enamel is porous, it could be the cause of your toddler’s tooth discoloration. The signs of enamel loss usually aren’t apparent, but your dentist should be able to tell if your child’s enamel is damaged.

Too Much Fluoride

Fluoride can be beneficial for your child’s smile, but too much of it can cause tooth discoloration! Get your drinking water tested to determine how much fluoride your child is consuming. If your child is also using a toothpaste or mouth rinse with fluoride, he or she could be getting too much—talk to your dentist about how much fluoride is too much for your toddler!

Sickness or Medications

Underlying medical conditions or certain supplements or medications could be affecting the color of your child’s teeth. Ensure your child is healthy and take a second look at any supplements or medications your child is on. Antibiotics in particular could cause tooth discoloration. It’s always a good idea to talk with your dentist about what could be affecting your child’s teeth, especially when it comes to their health and medicines.

Tooth discoloration should be a cause for concern, and a simple visit to your dentist can help identify if there’s a problem and if so, what you can do about it. Your child’s primary teeth are important placeholders for their adult teeth and help set up healthy habits for the future. Work with your child to prevent tooth decay and always visit your dentist for checkups!

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