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What is Tetracycline Staining?

Mary McMahon
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Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 10,603
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Tetracycline staining is discoloration of the teeth as a result of exposure to tetracycline antibiotics during dental development. Depending on the circumstances of the exposure, the teeth can be yellow, brown, greenish, or gray, and may have bands or pits. This happens because the tetracycline deposits in layers of tooth enamel and becomes a permanent part of the tooth. Even if future layers of enamel cover the tetracycline, the discoloration usually shows through.

If pregnant women take tetracycline during the last half of pregnancy, the fetus can have tetracycline staining. Although babies do not have visible teeth at birth, the groundwork has already been laid in the jaw, and as the teeth develop, staining will be evident. Children who take tetracycline for childhood illnesses can also experience changes in the color of their teeth, as their teeth are still growing and developing.

The risk of tetracycline staining is a known issue, and a doctor may try to prescribe other medications, if possible, before turning to this antibiotic for a bacterial infection. If there are no other choices, the doctor will move forward with tetracycline therapy, as the aesthetic risks of the medication are not as much of a concern as damage to the patient's health. The doctor may try to keep courses short and consider the patient's previous medical history to protect the teeth as much as possible.

People with stained teeth have a number of options for addressing the discoloration if it is a problem. One is to bleach the teeth. Tetracycline staining will respond to whitening treatments, although several treatments are necessary and the patient's teeth may always have clouds or shadows. One advantage to bleaching is cost effectiveness and the ability to do it at home. People who do not have very much money may try this at home first to see if it resolves the problem or lightens the discoloration enough to make it hard to notice.

Other patients may consider veneers. Veneers can cap the teeth and change their shape, if the patient also has concerns about chips and other problems with the teeth. For tetracycline staining, veneers need to be carefully designed to make sure they totally cover the discoloration, as it is often very deep and can persist through thin or poorly made coverings. A cosmetic dentist can evaluate a patient and provide recommendations on the basis of the level of damage and the patient's budget.

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Mary McMahon
By Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGeek researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

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Discussion Comments
By SteamLouis — On Oct 29, 2013

My nephew has gray teeth because his mom got pregnant with him while she was on tetracycline. It was a shock for his parents when he started teething. Tetracycline really needs to be avoided if there is any chance of pregnancy. Teeth staining is not the only side effect that tetracycline has on the fetus either. It can cause other issues and deformities. I personally think that doctors need to be more careful when prescribing this medication. There has to be other antibiotics that can be used with less side effects.

By donasmrs — On Oct 28, 2013

Teeth staining is mentioned as a rare but serious side effect of tetracycline in my drug information sheet. So it's not very common. I think it becomes more likely if tetracycline is taken for a very long time.

I only had to take it for seven days, so my doctor said that it should not be a problem for me. He said that he has a few patients who have had it because they were taking tetracycline daily for months to treat acne.

By bluedolphin — On Oct 28, 2013

I knew that teeth discoloration is a possible side effect of tetracycline but I had no idea that a fetus could be affected. How common is this problem?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a...

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