Why Can I See Through My Teeth? | Translucent Teeth

Have you recently been asking yourself the question: why can I see through my teeth? If so, read on and learn what we have to say about translucent teeth. 

At Huntington Bay Dental, we often see this common dental problem with the young and old and understand that it can be a frightening experience. After all, it’s scary to one day notice that your teeth are see-through. 

Although your teeth won’t be entirely see-through, you might be able to partially see through them, especially at the bottoms, if the enamel on your teeth has eroded. Unfortunately, see-through teeth can pose a threat to your health. 

That’s why we want to educate people on why their teeth might be see-through and the signs they should look for to catch this dental problem early. We also want to tell you how to prevent this issue from occurring and the treatment options available to get your teeth in tip-top condition again. 

Are Your Front Teeth See-Through? The Signs You Have Translucent Teeth

Credit: I, DavidShankbone, CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/, via Wikimedia Commons

There are cases where see-through teeth can be treated in the early stages because many of the symptoms of translucent teeth are the same as enamel erosion. 

To identify the problem and begin steps to fix it, you need to know the signs. Below we’ve shared a few of the indicators that you have translucent teeth or are on your way to developing them. 

• Visual changes: The most obvious sign that you have transparent teeth is if you can visually see through parts of your teeth. Usually, translucent teeth begin at the biting edges of the teeth. You will also notice color changes, tooth fractures, and surface indentations as they turn see-through. 
• Sensitivity: See-through teeth often begin with sensitivity to hot and cold foods. If you’ve noticed slight tooth pain or sensitivity when eating sweets and acidic foods, it could be because of translucent teeth. 
• Canker sores: Those who experience recurrent canker sores are more likely to develop translucent teeth. This is because acid that erodes enamel causes these sores. In addition, if you have see-through teeth (even a mild form) you could have jagged edges, which can also cause canker sores. 

These are only a few symptoms that indicate you could have or be well on your way to having translucent teeth. To determine if this is a problem you need to address, consider visiting our dental practice for an oral examination. 

What Are The Causes Of Translucent Teeth?

Now that you know the signs, it’s an excellent idea to learn the causes of translucent teeth. Below we have briefly discussed the different causes of see-through teeth that you should note: 

• The way you bite: The way your teeth rub against each other can cause translucency because the enamel thins on the backside of the tooth. Eventually, this can lead to chipping or worn teeth.  
• Frequent vomiting: Acute conditions like pregnancy-related morning sickness and chronic conditions like alcoholism and bulimia can cause frequent vomiting. This leads to the acid (from vomit) eating away at your teeth and your teeth becoming see-through. 
• Acid reflux: Unfortunately, frequent exposure to stomach acid can wear down tooth enamel. This is especially true if your stomach acid turns into a gastroesophageal reflux disease because this disease will lead to more frequent stomach acid. 
• Enamel hypoplasia: If you have enamel hypoplasia, you have a genetic condition that causes a lack of mineralization, a vital component in your body responsible for making enamel. Besides transparent teeth, you might also have incredibly thin tooth enamel if you live with this condition. 
• An acidic diet: If you have an acidic diet you have a greater chance of developing translucent teeth. The reason certain foods and drinks can harm your teeth is that they contain acid which can dissolve the minerals in your teeth’s outer layer (enamel). This happens because the acid lowers the pH level in your mouth.
• Celiac disease: Those suffering from celiac disease incur intestinal damage from eating foods with gluten. Besides suffering from diarrhea and bloating those with celiac disease often have see-through teeth as a primary symptom. 

What Are The Treatments For Translucency?

Sadly, tooth enamel is not a living structure, so it cannot be regrown after it has worn away. That’s why preventing enamel erosion is incredibly important and is one thing you can monitor if you visit a dentist regularly. 

The only way you can get rid of translucent teeth is to see your dentist, as they will need to perform a restorative treatment to improve the appearance of your teeth. 

So to learn more, have a look below to uncover the common treatments for translucent teeth:

• Veneers: One of the best restorative dental treatments to get rid of translucent teeth is to have veneers placed on the front side of your natural teeth. When veneers are placed correctly, they will improve the appearance of your teeth and protect them from further erosion. Also, veneers last between 4 to 12 years, depending on if you get composite resin or porcelain laminate veneers. 
• Bonding: Having dental bonding done is often a preferred restorative method for people with translucent teeth because it’s non-invasive and lasts between 5 to 7 years. Dental bonding involves applying composite resin to the surface of your teeth that is the same color as yours to make them appear brighter and stronger. 
• Crowns: If you have severe enamel loss and incredibly see-through teeth, a dentist will probably recommend crowns. Crowns are special tooth-shaped caps that are fitted over your teeth. They usually last between 10 to 15 years and take two to three appointments to complete. 

Transparent Teeth: Can You Stop It From Happening? 

There are a few ways to prevent transparent teeth and save yourself a trip to the dentist for restorative treatment. 

Besides brushing your teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and practicing proper oral hygiene, there are a few ways to avoid see-through teeth from becoming your reality. 

• Use a straw to help your teeth avoid exposure to the acids in drinks. 
• Drink plenty of water during the day to avoid a dry mouth and wash acids away from your teeth. 
• Boost the amount of saliva in your mouth by chewing sugar-free gum with xylitol. Eating gum with this ingredient will help reduce the corrosive effects acids from food and drinks have on your enamel. 
• Get frequent dental cleanings to keep your smile healthy and check to ensure you don’t have enamel damage. 
• Try to eat a healthy diet and manage acid reflux by avoiding acidic and spicy foods and beverages. 

If you want to learn more about preventing transparent teeth, you can speak with one of our dentists. 

Make An Appointment At Huntington Bay Dental To Address Your Teeth Translucency Problems

Now you know more about why you can see through your teeth. You also have a better idea of what causes this dental condition and how to fix and prevent it. 

If you have noticed you have translucent teeth and would like to do something about it, you can speak with one of the Huntington Bay Dental dentists to discuss possible treatments for your teeth. 

Our dental practice dentists have decades of experience and can help those with transparent teeth get their smiles back. So contact us, and we’ll tell you more about our many dental services.