The relationship between the drug and the color of teeth can be worrying because some people worry that taking antibiotics such as tetracycline can make the teeth dark and gray. But does taking this antibiotic affect the color of teeth at any age?
Tetracyclines are a group of antibiotics that can be used against a variety of pathogenic bacteria. Drugs such as doxycycline and minocycline are also included in the tetracycline family. Their main purpose is to treat acne. Other uses of tetracycline are in the treatment of infections of the respiratory tract, sinuses, intestines, gums, ears, urethra, and gonorrhea.
Tetracycline antibiotics only affect the color of teeth and bones during development. When the mother still brings the baby into the uterus, the primary teeth (or primary teeth) will experience its development. Permanent teeth (or adult teeth) develop during childhood when the baby is still in his mouth's main teeth.
Therefore, pregnant women or nursing mothers and young children with dysplastic teeth should avoid tetracycline drugs. Pregnant women taking tetracycline may stain your baby's deciduous teeth. Children taking tetracycline may cause adult teeth to develop poorly. These stains are usually internal and cannot be easily removed with conventional tooth whitening methods. Therefore, it is recommended not to give tetracycline to children under 12 years old. However, they are safe to use during the first 18 weeks of pregnancy.
Although tetracycline results in tooth discoloration in only developing teeth, these components are considered very safe for adults, including those who are not pregnant. The tetracycline group is the only family of antibiotics that can stain developing teeth. It is not known that all other antibiotics will discolor the teeth.
