Translucent Teeth or Transparent Teeth: 9 Causes and Remedies
Translucent Teeth can be a sign of any problem which is developing in the tooth. In general, our teeth are solid and opaque. They are not see-through or transparent or translucent. If they appear in such a way, then definitely there is a problem with the tooth. This necessitates an appointment with a dental professional or dentist.
There are different parts of the tooth like the crown, gum line, root, enamel, Dentin and the pulp. Enamel is the outermost protective covering of the tooth. It is hard in nature and opaque. When this enamel becomes thin due to any reason, it can lead to the formation of the Translucent Teeth.
What Causes Translucent Teeth:
There are many different causes of Translucent Teeth. Let us explore in detail about them.
Coeliac disease:
It is a type of Gastrointestinal disorder or a condition related to your gut. It is also known with the name of gluten-sensitive enteropathy. In this condition, there are several problems or symptoms that a person experiences like indigestion of foods which contain gluten, for example, wheat-containing bread, foods, etc.
This indigestion of gluten-containing foods leads to abdominal bloating, diarrhoea, loss of weight, lack of absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and minerals, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, etc. Due to the vitamin and mineral deficiencies like vitamin D and calcium deficiency, the enamel of the affected person becomes thin, giving the appearance of Translucent Teeth.
Bulimia Nervosa:
It is a type of eating disorder. The person affected with this condition is very conscious about their weight and body. The affected person keeps eating food and then tries to vomit out the food eaten.
When a person vomits the food, the acidic contents from the stomach pass into the mouth, leading to erosion of the enamel. Also, as the person is not taking nutritious food, he can develop nutritional deficiencies. Both of these factors can lead to thin enamel and Translucent Teeth.
Carbonated beverages:
When you drink an excess of carbonated or aerated drinks, it will affect the enamel of the teeth. The acidic nature of these drinks will erode the enamel, make it thin and lead to the transparency of the teeth.
Foods with high sugar content:
When you eat foods with high sugar content like chocolates and candies, it will damage the enamel of the teeth due to various reasons like attracting harmful bacteria.
Morning Sickness:
If you have a complaint of morning sickness, you might feel like vomiting quite often. This recurrent vomiting can also lead to the movement of the acidic content from the stomach into the mouth, thereby damaging the enamel and leading to Translucent Teeth.
Xerostomia:
Xerostomia is a condition in which your mouth is very dry. There is reduced production of saliva in this condition. Saliva helps in preventing oral infections. Dye to dryness of mouth, you are prone to attract harmful bacteria or bugs in your mouth. These bugs can damage the teeth and erode the enamel.
Medications:
Several medications which belong to the group called NSAIDs or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can lead to enamel thinning.
GERD:
GERD is the abbreviation of Gastroesophageal reflux disease. In this condition, the sphincter which separates the oesophagus and the stomach is not proper. So, there is reflux of acidic content from your stomach into your mouth. This can damage the enamel and lead to thinning.
Enamel hypoplasia:
In some people due to mineral deficiency, the enamel is not formed properly, it is called enamel hypoplasia. It can also lead to Translucent Teeth.
How to get rid of Transparent Teeth or Translucent Teeth:
There are several treatments which can be done by a dentist to get rid of Translucent Teeth. They are:
Composite bonding:
In this method, a material called composite resin is used to fill the gaps in the teeth and to cover the stains in the tooth. It can help to treat Translucent Teeth.
Crowns:
Crown is an artificial covering which can be placed over the Translucent Teeth to make to appear opaque just like a normal tooth.
Porcelain Veneers:
By using artificial Porcelain veneers also we can cover up the Translucent Teeth and make them appear normal.
How to Prevent the formation of Translucent Teeth:
There are many different precautions that you can take to prevent the formation of Translucent Teeth or transparent teeth. They are:
- Avoid excess consumption of aerated or carbonated beverages.
- Avoid eating sugary foods like candies, Chocolates.
- If you have any medical conditions like Coeliac disease and Bulimia Nervosa, get medical treatment for them.
- Eat foods rich in Calcium and Vitamin D to ensure you don’t have any deficiencies.
- If you have Vitamin D deficiency, get treatment for it.
- If you have any condition like GERD, avoid eating spicy foods. Take treatment for it. Your doctor may prescribe drugs like proton pump inhibitors, for example, Omeprazole, Esomeprazole, Rabeprazole, etc.
I hope you have understood the causes and remedies of Translucent Teeth or transparent teeth and found the information useful.