People are often in confusion when it comes to detecting a cavity vs stain on the teeth. This is because they are extremely similar in their physical appearance. However, there are many differences to it as well.
So, in this blog, we have discussed all the details of this cavity and stain on the tooth so that you can easily identify what is the black spot on your teeth.
We can briefly say that a cavity is like a spot on the teeth, whereas a stain is a little more significant discoloration that takes much more space on the surface. Let’s dig up more information about this.
Cavity vs Stain – Identification
You may find all the similarities between cavities and stains in terms of appearance on the tooth, but they do have their differences as well.
You have a cavity growth when bacteria erodes and goes through the protective enamel layer of your teeth. Therefore a cavity vs stain is a permanent disfiguration and can’t be reversed.
Cavities if left without treatment, will start off with tiny holes in the teeth that may cause decay or other kinds of dental issues.
On the other hand, if we look at stains, they are not a health risk as such. The only thing that falls in jeopardy is the entire look.
But what causes all of this to happen? Well, tooth stains or discolorations occur when your teeth’ enamel is negatively affected because of food or drink that you eat on a daily basis. Some foods contain pigments that leave their color on the tooth layer.
The only difference we see between cavity and stain is there is an added risk of tooth decay with a cavity, while for stains there is no such issue.
Telltale Signs of Teeth Stain
The most visible change you see is the shade change. There are multiple types of reasons for teeth to stain; let’s see what discoloration is:
You might have this concept of cavity vs tooth stain is one form or another related to discoloration. You should know that they are similar, yet a staining discoloration is contrasting. Here’s how.
The discoloration of the tooth may be of different shades because the color depends mainly on the food and drink pigments, our oral hygiene habits, etc. Some examples:
- Red – when you eat tomatoes or sauce made of it
- Brown – a smoker’s teeth start turning brown because of the contents
- Yellow –sugar and starchy food consumption
Additionally, a stain will usually cover your entire tooth vs cavity starts off small, like a spot on teeth that gradually grows in a particular area. So to be sure, if the tooth drastically changes color in a wider surface, it is a stain and not a cavity.
You may not like this fact, but stain vs a cavity is inevitable. You can’t save it from discoloration because as you grow, your teeth lose their outermost protective layer and bring out the color of dentin which is naturally yellow.
Cavity vs Stain – Signs
Cavity vs stain, although have similarities but they, are distinct from one another.
Here’s how you can spot a cavity. If the black dot on your teeth is like a single point, it is most likely a cavity.
Whereas staining takes up a large part of the entire tooth.
- Severe toothache
- Tooth sensitivity
- Painful eating or drinking
- Visible pits
Conclusion
This blog’s intent is to clear your issues regarding the differentiation of cavities vs stain. Still, in case of more questions or if you successfully spot a cavity on your teeth, contact the best dentist in Houston, Texas, at Pasadena Oral Surgery. Contact us on call 281 299 0053 or visit.