Tooth-colored fillings are made from a composite resin material that may change color over time depending on certain aspects of your lifestyle. So when our dentists first fill a cavity, they carefully match the composite’s shade with your natural tooth color.
So the first color contrast you may notice between your filling and teeth may be because your teeth have changed, rather than the fillings. But numerous things may cause a tooth-colored filling to change colors.
What Causes Discolored Fillings in St. Cloud?
One asset of composite resins in modern dental fillings is that they are flexible when placed but are hardened when exposed to a particular light wavelength. This curing process makes the material highly resilient, maintaining some degree of pliability. While this preserves more natural teeth during treatment, the composite is susceptible to certain staining substances.
Here are some things you consume which may change your composite filling’s color:
- Smoking and other tobacco use
- Black coffee and dark teas
- Red wine
- Acidic foods like tomato sauce and curries
- Insufficient oral hygiene
Composite fillings also wear over time, creating rough spots and areas which attract staining compounds. Additionally, tooth-colored restorations can dry out, which darkens their appearance. The best way to address stained dental fillings is to replace them with newer composites that may better resist color change. If you want to learn more about tooth-colored fillings, we encourage you to contact our St. Cloud dental office and schedule an appointment.