A tooth turning grey often indicates a problem within the tooth itself.
Understanding Tooth Discoloration
If you've noticed a tooth or two changing color to grey, blue, black, or even a dark pink, it's a significant sign that requires attention. According to dental information, a healthy tooth contains living nerves and pulp. If you observe a tooth or two turning gray, blue, black, or dark pink, the nerves and pulp within the tooth may have died.
The death of the pulp and nerves can cause the tooth's color to change over time, leading to the grey appearance.
Common Causes for a Tooth Turning Grey
Several factors can lead to the death of the tooth's nerves and pulp, resulting in discoloration. The reference highlights key reasons:
- Infection: Bacterial infection can spread within the tooth, particularly if decay is present or there's a crack allowing bacteria entry. This infection can kill the delicate tissues inside.
- Trauma: An injury or blow to the tooth can damage or sever the blood vessels and nerves that supply the pulp. This can lead to the death of the pulp tissue. This might happen immediately after trauma or gradually over time.
- Decay: Severe or untreated tooth decay can reach the pulp chamber, exposing the living tissue to bacteria and causing infection and death.
These issues can cause teeth to die and turn a different color. The grey color is essentially a visual manifestation of the changes occurring within the tooth after the pulp has necrotized (died).
What Happens Inside?
When the pulp dies, blood vessels break down, and the tissue starts to decompose. Byproducts from this process can seep into the tiny tubules within the tooth's dentin layer, staining the tooth from the inside out. This internal staining is what makes the tooth appear dark or grey.
In summary: A grey tooth is typically a sign that the living tissue (pulp and nerves) inside has died, most often due to infection, trauma, or severe decay.
