Black Spots or Discoloured Teeth: What do They Mean?

What do black spots and tooth discoloration mean? 

If you’ve spotted a dark spot or change in your tooth colour recently, don’t panic. Changes to your teeth don't always mean that you have tooth decay. It’s normal to feel worried, but even people who brush and floss religiously can notice a dark spot every now and then. 

While it’s smart to book a dentist appointment (just to be sure), there are plenty of other reasons your teeth might be changing, from harmless staining to changes in your tooth enamel. Learn more about the underlying causes and what you can do about it.

Staining

Dark foods like coffee, red wine or dark soda can stain our teeth. While these foods might change the colour of our teeth (usually from white to yellow or brown) people with irregular dental habits might notice small dark brown or black spots appearing on their teeth over time.

What it looks like

These spots often look like food or debris but they’re actually just surface stains or discolouration. Common places for these spots to appear are the front of your anterior teeth or the top of your molars but you might even notice them along your gum line. While these stains look like something you could clean with a toothbrush, they often need to be removed with professional tools by a dental hygienist. 

What to do

While staining is likely the cause of these spots, it's a good idea to book a dental appointment to check for tooth decay. Caffeine and other dark liquids are highly acidic which can weaken tooth enamel and make you susceptible to tooth erosion. If your tooth is healthy but the stains bother you, talk to your dentist about a thorough clean and polish.  

Tooth trauma

If you’ve experienced any type of tooth trauma recently, a dark tooth could be a sign of internal damage to the blood vessels, nerves or tooth pulp. The blood released into the pulp can cause the tooth to darken.

What it looks like

If you’ve taken a knock to the mouth your whole tooth may turn grey, brown or black over the next few days. 

What to do

See a dentist as soon as possible. You’ll need x-rays to determine how bad the damage is. If the pulp has been damaged, you may need a root canal. 

A cavity

A dark spot on your teeth could be a sign of tooth decay. But a black spot usually isn’t the only thing you might notice. You might also experience sensitivity to hot and cold, a toothache in one spot, sensitivity to sweet food and pain during eating.

What it looks like

A cavity often starts out as a faint white spot on the surface of your tooth. Over time this will turn light brown or dark brown and several spots may appear. Eventually a noticeable hole or pit may appear in the surface of your tooth. 

The size of the spot isn’t an indication of how bad the cavity is. You could have a significant amount of tooth decay but only a small dark spot on the surface of the tooth.

What to do

If you’ve noticed a small spot on your tooth – whether it’s white, black or brown – or a small hole you should book an appointment with your dentist right away. Your dentist will need to take x-rays to determine how much decay there is, and you’ll need a filling. 

When to see a dentist 

Annual checkups are a great way to stay on top of your oral health. But, if you notice a change in the colour of your tooth enamel or have a dark spot that wasn’t there before, it’s time to see a dentist. 

At Gentle Dental, our friendly dentists can evaluate the health of your teeth with a quick checkup and an x-rays. 

Book now at any of our four practices across Wellington.