Dental Advices Provided to you by: Brite Medical Center
Green staining may occur on primary (baby) or secondary (permanent) teeth. Besides affecting how a person’s smile looks, green teeth may signal an underlying health condition.
In this article, we’ll go over why teeth might take on a green tinge and review some possible fixes.
Teeth can turn green from the inside out (intrinsic staining) or from the outside in (extrinsic staining).
Intrinsic staining takes place deep within a tooth’s dentin, or inner layer. This type of stain is uncommon. But when it does occur, it tends to happen during the tooth’s development.
The green color may be caused by a lack of nutrients in a person’s diet or by certain health conditions.
Extrinsic staining occurs on the tooth’s enamel, or outer layer. It’s usually caused by a buildup of bacteria or fungi that isn’t removed through frequent brushing.
Dark foods or drinks can contribute to greenish stains on tooth enamel. Tobacco and certain medications can also discolor teeth.
This table provides an overview of the intrinsic and extrinsic reasons for green teeth. You can read more about each in the following sections.
Several conditions may cause teeth to come in green. These include:
Jaundice in infants is associated with yellow skin and eyes. This common condition is caused by an excess of bilirubin in the bloodstream.
Bilirubin is a yellow pigment that’s created when red blood cells break down. Too much bilirubin can affect the color of baby teeth while they’re forming; though it’s rare, they may come in green.
Green baby teeth caused by too much bilirubin will remain that color until they fall out and permanent teeth grow in their place. The permanent teeth won’t be green.
When newborn jaundice lasts longer than 2 to 3 weeks, it’s called persistent jaundice. This condition is typically the result of hyperbilirubinemia (excess bilirubin). As with newborn jaundice, green teeth that result from persistent jaundice will only affect a child’s primary teeth.
A small percentage of cases, though, may instead be caused by cholestatic liver disease, which blocks or slows the flow of bile in the body.
The Rh factor is a specific protein found on the surface of your red blood cells. Rh incompatibility occurs when a pregnant woman has Rh-negative blood but her baby has Rh-positive blood.
In this case, the mother’s body reacts to the baby’s blood as if it’s a foreign substance: It creates antibodies that attack the baby’s red blood cells. Rh incompatibility can result in hyperbilirubinemia in newborns, which can cause green primary teeth.
This condition is similar to Rh incompatibility. It occurs when a pregnant woman has type O blood but her baby has type A or B blood.
ABO incompatibility can also result in hyperbilirubinemia in newborns, causing green primary teeth to form.
Sepsis is a potentially life threatening reaction to an infection. It can occur at any age.
Sepsis may stop or slow the release and flow of bile from the liver. This complication of sepsis is called cholestasis. Cholestasis may cause green primary teeth in children.
Hemolytic anemia occurs when red blood cells are destroyed faster than your bone marrow can produce them. It has a wide range of causes. These include hereditary conditions, such as sickle cell anemia.
A buildup of bilirubin and green teeth may result from hemolytic anemia.
Some antibiotics, such as ciprofloxacin and tetracycline, may cause the primary teeth of babies or even the secondary teeth of children to take on a greenish hue.
Extrinsic stains can make teeth look gray, brown, black, yellow, orange, or green. Extrinsic stains can be caused by:
Extrinsic stains are more likely to occur if you don’t have good oral hygiene habits, such as brushing your teeth twice daily.
Treatment differs for intrinsic and extrinsic causes of green teeth. It also depends whether the staining occurs on baby teeth or permanent teeth. Here are some things you should — and shouldn’t — do.
Parents will likely want to know how to treat intrinsic green stains on their baby’s teeth. But these stains can’t be removed through at-home dental care, such as brushing.
Green baby teeth shouldn’t be whitened professionally. Over-the-counter whitening products can irritate the gums and shouldn’t be used on small children.
Green baby teeth will eventually fall out and be replaced by permanent teeth. These permanent teeth won’t be green.
Intrinsic stains on permanent teeth can be tough to eliminate completely. Things to try at home include:
You may also benefit from professional whitening treatments done by your dentist, such as:
Ways to treat extrinsic stains include the following:
Green teeth can be caused by both intrinsic and extrinsic staining.
Intrinsic staining often occurs during a tooth’s development. Medical conditions, such as jaundice, may cause a baby’s teeth to come in green.
Professional whitening procedures and whitening toothpastes shouldn’t be used on baby teeth because they may irritate sensitive gums.
Extrinsic green stains are often caused by poor oral hygiene and bacterial buildup on teeth. These types of stains often respond well to at-home treatment or to treatment at the dentist’s office.
Last medically reviewed on June 15, 2020
Share this article
OUR BRANDS
Book Your Appontment with Our Dental Team Now: Call: +97444147405