Causes and Treatment of Black Spots on Teeth - When to See a Dentist

Understanding Black Spots on Teeth: Causes, Prevention and Treatment

Noticing a black spot or dots on your teeth can be alarming. However, in most cases these spots are benign. This comprehensive guide covers the common causes of black dotted spots on teeth, when to see a dentist, preventative care, and available treatment options to remove stubborn black stains.

What Causes Black Dots on Teeth?

There are several potential causes of small black spots or dots on the surface of teeth:

• Tooth decay - Cavities in the early stages can appear as tiny black holes or lines before eroding deeper into enamel.
• Dental trauma - Injury or trauma to a tooth can cause blood vessels in the pulp to rupture and leak, creating black spotting.
• Food staining - Dark foods and drinks like coffee, tea, soda, red wine, and dark berries can stain grooves or porous areas.
• Tobacco use - Chewing tobacco placed against the teeth promotes staining and bacterial growth.
• Dental fillings - Over time, silver amalgam fillings can corrode and cause gray or black discoloration around the edges.
• Pellicle - Thin staining deposits from foods, tobacco, and plaque accumulates in tiny grooves in enamel.

In rare cases, black spots on teeth can also be caused by more serious issues like oral cancer, gum disease, or melanocyte pigmentation.

When to See a Dentist

Make an appointment with your dentist if you notice any of the following:

• New spots appear suddenly, or existing spots change or grow larger
• Spots are highly pigmented or nearly black in color
• Spots appear asymmetrically only on one tooth or one area of the mouth
• Spots are accompanied by pain, swelling, or changes in biting/chewing
• You have other worrisome symptoms like loose teeth, mouth sores, white/red patches, or oral lesions
• You smoke or chew tobacco and see stains on your teeth

Professional cleaning and examination is recommended to determine the cause and rule out any concerning underlying conditions. Catching problems early is key.

Preventing Black Spots on Teeth

Practicing good oral hygiene and limiting staining foods/drinks can help prevent black dots on teeth:

• Brush teeth twice daily with a soft bristle toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste
• Floss daily to remove plaque from between teeth
• Get professional teeth cleanings every 6 months
• Use an antibacterial mouthwash to kill bad oral bacteria
• Drink dark liquids through a straw to minimize contact with teeth
• Rinse mouth with water after consuming staining drinks or foods
• Quit smoking and avoid chewing tobacco

Avoiding sugary foods, acidic drinks, and starchy carbs can also help prevent cavities and tooth decay which can appear as black spots if left untreated.

Professional Teeth Whitening

If black spots are superficial staining in the enamel, professional whitening may help remove or lighten their appearance. Your dentist can provide in-office whitening treatments or custom take-home trays with stronger bleaching gels compared to over-the-counter products.

However, deeply penetrated staining or decays spots will not respond to whitening. Other treatments like microabrasion, dental bonding, crowns or veneers may be required instead.

Tooth-Colored Fillings

If black spots are due to metal amalgam fillings corroding at the margins, a dentist can remove the old fillings and replace them with tooth-colored composite resin fillings that match your natural tooth shade. This instantly improves the appearance.

Microabrasion

Microabrasion is a minimally invasive procedure that uses an abrasive compound to gently "sand" away superficial stains and discoloration on enamel. This removes thin stains and leaves the enamel polished and more resistant to future stains.

Dental Bonding

For isolated dark spots, a dentist can apply dental bonding material to the tooth surface and sculpt it to match the natural shape. Bonding adheres to the enamel for a smooth, seamless look.

Porcelain Veneers

Veneers are thin porcelain shells that adhere to the front of teeth. Getting veneers over all upper teeth can mask black spots while also fixing chips, gaps, and uneven shapes for a perfect smile.

Dental Crowns

Dental crowns fully encase damaged teeth to strengthen, restore shape and hide flaws. A crown placed over a single discolored tooth can hide the black spot underneath for a natural uniform look.

What Causes Black Spots on Teeth?

While unnerving, black dots and spots on your pearly whites are rarely cause for concern. Heres a breakdown of what those dark marks could be and when to call your dentist.

Food Staining

Dark berries, wine, coffee, and tea can leave stains on your teeth. These may appear as dots and lines against your enamel. Bacteria in your mouth create pigments that latch onto them and cause discoloration. White teeth naturally yellow with age, too, as thinner enamel exposes more of the yellowy dentin underneath.

Dental Trauma

If you experience an injury that jolts or chips your teeth, the inner pulp may start to die, and tiny blood vessels burst. This blood seeps outward and shows through as dots or flecks.

Tooth Decay

Cavities in their earliest stages can look like tiny black spots. Early decay starts when bacteria in your mouth create acid that eats away at enamel. Without treatment, the cavity grows bigger and deeper.

Old Dental Work

Metal dental fillings can start to corrode and tint the tooth surface around them gray or black. Porcelain crowns can also get microscopic cracks that collect stains.

Oral Cancer, Melanoma

Dark spots in your mouth may rarely indicate melanoma or another type of cancer. See your dentist promptly if you notice strange spots, sores that wont heal, red or white patches, loose teeth, pain or numbness.

Gum Disease

Advanced gum disease can cause teeth to loosen and the supporting bone to recede. Pockets form that can collect debris and look like dark spots between teeth.

When to See Your Dentist

Make a dental appointment if you see:

• Sudden unexplained spots
• Spots that rapidly change shape or color
• Very dark spots
• Spots only on one tooth or mouth area
• Discoloration with pain or discomfort
• White/red patches or mouth sores

Your dentist can determine if staining is superficial or a sign of decay, infection, or other issues needing treatment.

Preventing Dark Spots on Teeth

Daily dental care helps prevent stains and decay that can cause black dots:

• Brush properly twice a day.
• Floss thoroughly once daily.
• Use antimicrobial mouth rinse.
• Drink staining beverages through a straw.
• Rinse after consuming staining foods and drinks.
• Get professional teeth cleanings every 6 months.

A healthy diet low in sugary and acidic foods also helps keep your enamel strong and stave off cavities.

Removing Black Spots on Teeth

Superficial staining can be lightened using teeth whitening treatments:

• Get in-office power whitening from your dentist.
• Use custom whitening trays with carbamide peroxide gels.
• Try non-prescription whitening kits sparingly.

For dark spots caused by fillings, veneers, crowns or bonding can mask the affected areas. Deep stains and decay require professional treatment.

Types of Black Spots on Teeth

Several different types of black marks and discoloration can appear on teeth. Some are harmless while others need dental care.

Extrinsic Stains

Extrinsic stains affect the outer enamel surface. Common causes include:

• Dietary stains - Coffee, tea, cola, red wine, dark berries
• Tobacco stains - Tar in cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco
• Poor oral hygiene - Plaque buildup
• Medications - Antibiotics with tetracycline can stain teeth
• Metallic stains - Corroding dental work like amalgam fillings or metal braces brackets

Extrinsic stains only affect the enamel and can often be removed with professional teeth whitening treatments.

Intrinsic Stains

Intrinsic stains are incorporated deeper into the tooth structure. Causes include:

• Dental caries - Cavities and tooth decay
• Dental trauma - Injuries that cause internal bleeding beneath enamel
• Excessive fluoride - Overexposure to fluoride can cause fluorosis stains
• Enamel hypoplasia - Underdeveloped thin enamel that exposes yellow dentin
• Aging - Naturally thinner enamel as you age

Intrinsic stains cannot be removed with conventional teeth whitening products. Other treatments like dental bonding, veneers or crowns are needed to cover them.

Black Hairy Tongue

Black hairy tongue is a harmless condition caused by elongation of the papillae on the tongue surface. Dead skin cells, food debris, and bacteria accumulate and stain the elongated papillae dark brown or black. Proper oral hygiene helps treat it.

What Do Black Spots on Teeth Mean?

Black spots that suddenly appear may rightly worry you, but theyre seldom serious. Heres how to decode those dark dots and know when to call your dentist.

Cavities

One of the most common causes of black spots is untreated tooth decay. Cavities begin as tiny weak points where bacteria infiltrate enamel. As the cavity eats deeper into dentin, it starts to look like a pinpoint dark spot.

Staining

Dark drinks like coffee and wine can leave behind pigments. These stains bond inside pits and grooves in your enamel. Stains also accumulate around old fillings, turning them black at the margins.

Dental Trauma

Injuries to teeth can cause tiny blood vessels inside the pulp to burst. This blood seeps out through the dentin and looks like specks or smudges through the enamel.

Gum Disease

Advanced gum disease damages the tissues around teeth. As gums recede, deep pockets form that can fill with bacteria and look like black gaps between teeth.

Oral Cancer

A sudden black spot, especially on soft tissues like the gums, tongue, or inside the cheek, has an outside chance of being cancerous. Other possible signs include sores, red or white patches, pain, and numbness.

When to Visit Your Dentist

See your dentist if you have:

• Sudden unexplained spots
• Rapidly changing spots
• Very dark pigmented spots
• Spots on only one area
• Pain or discomfort around spots
• Red or white patches in the mouth

Prompt examination and testing can determine if spots are harmless staining or signs of decay, infection, or something more serious requiring treatment.

What Are Those Black Spots on My Teeth?

Have you noticed strange black dots or marks on your pearly whites? There are a few likely causes, some harmless and others that need dental attention.

Cavities

One of the most common reasons you may see black spots on teeth are cavities in their earliest stages. Tooth decay starts when bacteria in the mouth create acids that erode tooth enamel. At first, this erosion looks like a tiny dark pinprick.

Dental Trauma

If you experience an injury or trauma to your teeth, it can cause tiny blood vessels inside the tooth pulp to rupture. This blood seeps out through the dentin and appears as dots or smudges through the enamel.

Extrinsic Stains

Stains on the outer tooth surface from foods, drinks, tobacco, and poor oral hygiene can settle into pits and grooves on your enamel. Coffee, tea, red wine, and berries often cause extrinsic stains.

Intrinsic Stains

Stains can also become incorporated deeper into the tooth structure and dentin layer. Causes include fluorosis, enamel hypoplasia, medication staining, and simply aging as enamel thins.

Oral Cancer

In rare cases, a sudden black spot or dots could indicate melanoma or another form of oral cancer. See your dentist promptly if you also have mouth sores, pain, white/red patches or other strange symptoms.

When to Visit the Dentist

Make a dental appointment if spots have:

• Appeared suddenly
• Changed size or color
• Very dark pigmented color
• Irregular location
• Pain or discomfort

Your dentist can identify if staining is harmless or a sign of more serious dental issues needing treatment.

FAQs: Black Spots on Teeth

What causes black spots to appear on teeth?

Common causes include stains from food/drinks, tobacco use, poor hygiene, dental trauma, cavities, old fillings, and rarely oral cancer. Aging and thinning enamel also leads to discoloration.

Should I worry about black dots on my teeth?

Most causes of small black spots are harmless, but it's a good idea to point them out at your next dental checkup. Sudden spots or those changing shape warrant prompt examination.

Can black spots on teeth be removed?

Surface stains may lighten with professional teeth whitening. Spots from cavities, old fillings, or trauma require other treatments like dental bonding, veneers or crowns.

How do I prevent black spots from forming?

Practicing good daily dental hygiene, getting regular dental cleanings, limiting staining foods/drinks, and avoiding tobacco can help prevent black spots from forming.

What do I do if I see a new black spot on my tooth?</h3

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.