Brown teeth?

[brownfang]

I have brown streaks on my top front teeth, due to all the enamel gone & down to dentin. Not decayed, just very obvious brown streaks. I feel very self-conscious about it.

I read about veneers, most the people who have bad experiences seem to have crooked not eroded teeth. I can't even find a picture of teeth like mine online.

It's expensive, probably will be painful, and it could lead to a remaining lifetime of painful & expensive maintenance, but I think veneers might be the only way to make my teeth look normal again.

Has anyone had similar problems and what did you do about it? TIA.

[Greengardenpixie]

What about crowns? Might you get help through the nhs if its at the front? I had a chipped tooth and fillings on my front teeth and instead she gave me crowns at the front. She still kept my teeth but filed them down and put a crown over them. They look ok.

[Dowser]

I'm 63 always had lovely even teeth at the front and sides . Quite white too but last year a front one needed a filling and it's left me with an off white tooth.( bottom row) . I'm surprised how much it's upset me considering the wrinkles and grey hair thats appeared.

I'd love to do something about it. It would probably be a veneer or a crown and I don't really want an incisor filed down.

( the back ones are filled and drilled and are just shells of what they used to be)

[Blueberrymuffint0p]

I know someone who had brown staining on their front teeth and had them veneered. To say it was a transformation would be an understatement.

I've recently had braces for crooked teeth. The difference it's made to my confidence is unbelievable,I always knew they made me self conscious but I didn't realise just how much. To be able to meet people and smile without the first thought being 'oh no,they'll look at my teeth' is a wonderful feeling.

Sorry I've got no practical advice but just go for it, whatever it takes. It'll be money well spent I can guarantee.

[Shonajay]

Have you seen a dentist? There may be a cheaper option- sorry if you have. My dh got veneers on his four front teeth for our wedding 23 years ago and they're still going strong and looking great.

[brownfang]

I seen the dentist this week. Who is private not NHS so I guess that may give me more options. Thanks so much for replies. I just thought maybe I'd ask around (but I hate drawing attention to this in real life, so no one I'd dare ask IRL!) to see what ideas I could get my head around.

I thought maybe I should get a composite veneer now (cheaper, less painful, quicker) with a crown to replace it in 10+ yrs. Even crowns don't last forever, do they (?) Another thread talked about internal bleaching which is root canal plus refilling the middle, but I suppose crowns last better.

The cost, though, oh my lord the cost. Not sure my lovely dentist does this type of cosmetic work, she might refer me to someone else anyway.

[SnottySundays]

How did it go?

[Sometimesjustonesecond]

Be careful with crowns. Mine have been known to fall out and that would not be good on the front teeth!

[brownfang]

Thanks for asking, I am such an idiot!!

I do have erosion, but the current problem is mostly staining so the hygienist can sort it. Phew!! Best news I've had in ages. Hope your situation is sorted soon, SS.

[Dowser]

What is the hygiene it's doing?

[Dowser]

What is the hygienist idoing?

[ExitPursuedByABear]

My DD has great teeth but they do get brown staining. No idea why as she has good dental hygiene.

Interested to hear your hygienist's solution.

[SnottySundays]

Great news, really pleased for you.

[bownfang]

Sorry for late reply (long day at work).
Thanks for the kind words & interest.
Apparently the hygienist can do some kind of very gentle sand-blasting (sounds gruesome). But dentist was sure that's all I need because she managed to just scrape some off with her own metal tool (oh the shame). It's not NHS, so maybe options NHS doesn't offer. Dentist said I could consider very gentle bleaching but it can be slightly risky when a simpler solution is available. I already have soft enamel, don't want to push my luck.

I drink a few mugs of tea most days, guess that's what did it.

[bownfang]

ha, stupid name changing lost my R in name, didn't I.

[serenmoon]

Drinking tea can cause this. Green tea is particularly bad for it apparently. I get it on my bottom teeth but I see the hygienist twice a year for scale and polish and that sorts it out. She always tells me to drink less tea but no chance.

[imnottoofussed]

I had this due to tea drinking, I actually only drink 1-2 cups a day so not excessive, I found using a whitening toothpaste has made a massive difference, I particularly use Colgate sensitive whitening.

[NoArmaniNoPunani]

A lot of mouthwashes cause staining - corsodyl is the worst but it's also been noted in Listerine and dentyl Ph. I'm a dentist and many people I see don't realise this.

[brownfang]

That's annoying, I thought mouthwash was good for fluoride, argh.

[Mrsmorton]

Corsodyl doesn't have fluoride in. Mouthwash is 99% marketing bullshit, you should only use it if your dentist has specifically advised otherwise you're at best wasting your money, at worse adversely affecting your oral health.

[brownfang]

Ok, good to know for future reference, I haven't heard of that cordosyl thingy before, it's not in my current mouthwash (alcohol free Colgate).

I can't eat until I've been awake for a few hrs & mouthwash seemed a courtesy to fellow commuters & coworkers plus I didn't worry so much about when I got around to morning brushing. I find toothpaste nauseating, too. Why are all toothpastes & mouthwashes so spicy? Does the spicy taste help clear plaque. Almost all of them are so painful to taste.