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Teeth Becoming Transparent – What to Do?

May 28, 2018
 Teeth Becoming Transparent – What to Do?
Have you looked in the mirror recently and realized your pearly whites are starting to look more of a ghostly grey? If you have, although you don’t need to rush off on an emergency visit to the dentist, you should definitely consult one in the...

Have you looked in the mirror recently and realized your pearly whites are starting to look more of a ghostly grey? If you have, although you don’t need to rush off on an emergency visit to the dentist, you should definitely consult one in the near future about the problem. Teeth becoming transparent is a sign that the protective coating of enamel is starting to thin, leaving your teeth increasingly vulnerable to damage.

What causes teeth to become transparent?

As we said, this is a sign that the enamel is thinning, which could be due to numerous reasons. If you’re neglecting your dental hygiene, naturally occurring acids in your food and beverages can eat away at the enamel. Even with good dental hygiene, a diet high in acidic foods like pickles and citrus fruit, or excessive consumption of wine or soda could cause problems.

Of course, your teeth becoming transparent may not necessarily be the result of diet or neglect. Thinning enamel can also be caused by a variety of health conditions as well. Enamel hypoplasia leads to the teeth losing minerals and enamel, leaving them grey and translucent. Coeliac disease can affect the proper development of enamel while your teeth are growing. In addition, conditions such as morning sickness or acid reflux can also result in acid damage to your enamel.

If my enamel has been damaged, will it grow back?

Unfortunately, the answer to this question is no. Unlike your other bones, damage to your teeth is permanent, once the enamel is gone, it’s gone for good. It won’t regrow or replace itself. This is the reason why it is so important to look after your teeth and protect them from the effects of acids.

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Transparent Teeth Remedy: What can be done about it then?

Although there is no treatment that can replace lost enamel, your dentist does have some options to restore the shine to your smile and help protect your teeth from further damage.

  • Enamel Remineralization. This is a process which involves your dentist opening pores in your teeth and filling them with a mixture of calcium phosphate, sodium fluoride, and Recaldent. This combination will act like enamel, restoring the whiteness to your smile and helping to protect your teeth against further acid erosion and general decay. It will also make your teeth less sensitive to heat and cold.
  • Veneers. Veneers are a layer of material that is placed on top of your teeth to hide any damage. They are a superficial treatment for the problem of transparent teeth. They will improve the appearance of your teeth but won’t help do much to protect them from further damage. You can choose between the traditional porcelain veneers or the more economical minimal prep veneers, according to your budget and needs.

Of course, prevention is always better than cure and even if you notice a problem developing, there are steps you can take to minimize it. While there’s not much you can do about enamel hypoplasia or coeliac disease, you can protect your teeth from acid damage from foods or conditions that cause vomiting or acid reflux. Obviously, the first step is to develop a good dental hygiene regime as a matter of habit. In addition, you should rinse your mouth out with water after eating acidic foods, throwing up or acid reflux. Brushing immediately after any of the above situations could do more harm than good as the acid will make your enamel vulnerable to damage. After half an hour, brush your teeth and rinse with mouthwash to remove all traces of acid.

And if you have concerns at all about your teeth, contact us now to make an appointment.