Unfortunately, tetracycline can stain your teeth and give them yellow or even brown shades. Although it is a highly used antibiotic that has been on the market for more than 60 years, it can discolor your teeth, especially if you use it in a higher dosage. The most affected patients are kids under the age of eight. Let’s see the reason behind tetracycline’s staining effects and the best tetracycline stained teeth treatment to consider.
Why Tetracycline Stains Your Teeth?
Tetracycline antibiotics can stain your teeth, giving them a discolored shade. This element is used to treat infections, but if you take it long enough, it might have some serious side effects. The bad news is that the discoloration is permanent. Tetracycline speeds up your teeth’s oxidation process, making them yellow. If you have seen patients with tetracycline stained teeth, you probably noticed the fact that their front teeth are darker than their back teeth. This happens, because the front teeth are more exposed to direct sunlight which boosts tetracycline’s side effects.
How to Prevent Tetracycline Stained Teeth?
First and foremost, if you are pregnant, you should definitely avoid taking tetracycline antibiotics. They can go past the placenta and affect your toddler’s teeth, damaging his oral health. Furthermore, kids under the age of eight years old should also avoid taking this treatment.
There is also good news. Adults with matured teeth can safely use tetracycline in their treatment because it will not stain their teeth. The risk is higher only while teeth are still developing. However, if you have any doubts, you should consult your doctor and adjust your dosage as well as your treatment’s period.
The Best Tetracycline Stained Teeth Treatment
Unfortunately, the classic ways to whiten your teeth will not work with tetracycline stains. Therefore, you need to discuss it with your dentist to find the proper and most effective way to deal with this issue. So far, the best tetracycline stained teeth treatment available on the market are veneers.
They are often used to cover damaged teeth, especially those in the front of your mouth. This procedure cements the veneers on your teeth’s surface to provide a permanent solution to your staining problem. When it comes to back teeth staining issues, the best remedy or the most effective tetracycline stained teeth treatment is a dental crown. It will cap your tooth’s surface, covering it entirely.
Putting It All Together
Even though there are some tetracycline stained teeth treatment options available, you should always take care of your oral health. Moreover, prevention is key, and it is better than any treatment. This is why you should always discuss with your dentist and tell him/her what kind of treatments you are on. Depending on this, they might help you avoid negative drug interactions. Your teeth can become discolored because of many reasons. But if you think they are this way because of tetracycline staining effects, you should make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible.
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