DEAR DR. GOTT:
I was born in the late 1960s and became very ill when I was three. Doctors prescribed me tetracycline. I think it was the antibiotic of choice back then.
My question to you is: could it cause adult teeth to yellow? Since my adult teeth first appeared, they have been yellow. They are strong, healthy and thanks to braces, straight but I hate opening my mouth because of the discoloration. I have had every bleaching system available done but none worked. I even had porcelain veneers but those too, have turned yellow. What can I do? Is tetracycline still being used today?
DEAR READER:
Tetracycline and similar antibiotics, including doxycycline (commonly used to treat Lyme disease) can cause permanent tooth discoloration (yellow, grey or brown) in children. [Read more...]