Drug-Induced Teeth Discoloration: Causes and Treatment Options

Drug-Induced Teeth Discoloration: Causes and Treatment Options, updated 7/4/21, 3:00 AM

We often turn to medications for cure and protection, but did you know that the same compounds that can help you heal can also stain your teeth?

Here’s a list of the drugs you should take note of and the things you can do to prevent tooth discoloration.

 

https://sunrise-dentistry.com/blog/drug-induced-teeth-discoloration-causes-and-treatment-options/

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Drug-Induced Teeth
Discoloration: Causes and
Treatment Options
B LOG | S UNR I S E D EN T I S T R Y
https://sunrise-dentistry.com/
Tooth discoloration is a common
dental issue that may occur due to
several causes, including medications.
The good news is that most drug-
induced stains are treatable and
preventable.
Let’s check what kinds of drugs may
cause stained teeth, and what you can
do to keep your pearly whites healthy
and looking their best.
Types of Teeth Staining
To understand tooth discoloration
better, let us first discuss the different
categories of staining.
Extrinsic tooth discoloration refers to
stains that are only affecting the
enamel. This is commonly caused by
food, drinks, and smoking.
Intrinsic types of staining involve the
inner part of the tooth, which makes
it more difficult to remove manually
using over the counter cleaning and
whitening products.
Unlike the usual yellowish color, it
looks grayish. Tooth decay, excessive
fluoride, or any tooth injury
commonly cause intrinsic tooth
discoloration.
For older people, it is normal to have
stained teeth. Once the enamel starts
to wear out, it will leave a yellow
appearance. In most cases, age-
related staining is also induced by
both extrinsic and intrinsic factors.
So where can we classify
medications? Drugs used locally or
systemically are directly linked with
both extrinsic and intrinsic tooth
discoloration.
These medications often contain
chromogens, a substance that
converts into a dye or other colored
compounds. Depending on where
these chromogens are deposited,
that’s the only time the type of
staining involved can be determined.
Which Drugs Commonly Cause
Intrinsic Tooth Discoloration?
Medications that stain the outer
surface of your teeth may be caused
by metallic or non-metallic products.
These will cause superficial stains
that can be removed via professional
cleaning.
Drugs and Oral Solutions
Causing Metallic Stains:
While the exact mechanisms of the
processes involved in teeth
staining remain unclear, it is
believed that when metals interact
with dental plaque, their sulfide
salts will cause stains.

Drugs containing metallic
compounds such as iron
supplements may cause a dark
brown to black discoloration.
Users of mouth rinses with
copper salts often complain of
greenish teeth.
Potassium permanganate
mouthwash, which is used to
treat oral candidiasis, causes
violet-black stains.
While fluoride supplements are
helpful in the prevention of
dental cavities, when taken
excessively, it can cause defective
tooth mineralization or dental
fluorosis, which is characterized
by brown-colored teeth.
Stannous fluoride mouthwash, a
popular desensitizing agent, will
also yield brown stains in the
teeth.
Drugs and Oral Solutions Causing
Non-metallic Stains:
Antiseptic mouthwashes like
Chlorhexidine can produce a
brownish stain among people
with plaque-covered teeth.
Other antimicrobial agents, such
as Amoxicillin-Clavulanic Acid
and Linezolid, are said to cause
pseudo-discoloration.
Glibenclamide, which treats
neonates with diabetes, may also
cause staining because the
ingested chromogens precipitate
onto the dental surface.
Several drugs may also cause intrinsic
tooth discoloration. The staining may
occur before or after the formation
and eruption of teeth.
Tetracycline and Its Derivatives
These broad-spectrum antibiotics can
cause tooth discoloration when given
during the formation of teeth.
The most critical time during which
tetracycline can be incorporated into
baby or milk teeth is from 4 months
in utero to 5 months after birth. They
can also stain permanent teeth from 4
months postpartum to 7 years old.
Therefore, tetracycline should not be
given to expectant and lactating
mothers or children below 8 years old,
unless required.
The type and severity of antibiotic
teeth stain depends on the type of
tetracycline used, its dose, and the
duration of exposure. A drug dose of
more than 3 grams, or when use
exceeds 10 days, often can cause teeth
staining.
Minocycline and Doxycycline react
with the glycoproteins of the dental
pellicle, a protein film that coats the
tooth enamel to help prevent the
deposition of salivary calcium
phosphate, which increases one’s risk
of periodontitis. This interaction
causes oxidation and produces stains
when exposed to bacteria or sunlight.
Ciprofloxacin
Infants treated with Ciprofloxacin for
Klebsiella infection had
decalcification and greenish stains on
the teeth.
These are just some of the most
common drugs that may cause
stained teeth.
Do not forget that these medications
can be sold under a different brand
name depending on the manufacturer
or your location. Check the labels
carefully or ask your doctor.
What Can You Do to Get Rid of
These Stains?
A visit to your prescribing physician
may be necessary. If your condition
will allow, you might be given an
alternative drug.
While there are several over-the-
counter teeth whitening products
available, in-office treatment with a
dentist remains to be one of the best
options for antibiotic teeth stain
removal.
Get regular dental cleanings with a
holistic dentist in Durango, CO to
help reduce the appearance of tints
and spots. Contact Sunrise Dentistry
at (970) 247-3303.
dale@durangolive.net
EMAIL ADDRESS
(970) 247-3303
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https://sunrise-dentistry.com/
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