The small grooves on the chewing surface of molars easily pick up colour from food, but they are also where decay often begins. It helps to know the difference.
- A brown or black mark on the chewing surface may be only a stain, but it may also be early decay.
- Early decay usually does not hurt, so the eye alone often cannot tell the difference and a dentist should check.
- Filling early while the decay is shallow is far simpler than waiting until it reaches the nerve.
- Brushing the chewing surfaces carefully, limiting sweets and regular check ups help prevent molar decay.
Many people look in the mirror and see a brown or black line in a groove on the chewing surface of a molar. Because it does not hurt, they wonder whether it is worth seeing a dentist. In fact the mark may be just a stain, but it may also be decay that is only beginning.
Why do the grooves collect dark marks?
The chewing surface of molars has very deep and narrow grooves. Food fragments and plaque settle into them where the bristles of a toothbrush cannot reach. Tea, coffee and coloured drinks can stain the grooves brown. But this is also exactly where bacteria soften the enamel and cause decay.
How can you tell a stain from decay?
- Stain: a thin, even mark with a hard, smooth surface and no hole.
- Decay: a mark that slowly darkens, may become a hole, feels soft when probed, causes sensitivity to sweet or cold food, or often traps food.
However, the eye often cannot tell them apart reliably. Early decay can be a tiny brown mark that causes no pain at all. A dentist can use instruments and an X-ray to find out whether it is decay and how deep it goes.
When is a filling needed?
If it is decay found early, removing the affected part and filling the tooth is usually simple and takes away only a small part of the tooth. If it is left, the decay eats deeper into the dentin and then the nerve, which needs more complex treatment. You can read about whether a filling hurts to learn the steps.
Preventing decay on chewing surfaces
- Brush the chewing surfaces carefully, moving the brush back and forth over the grooves for at least two minutes in total.
- Limit sticky sweets and constant snacking.
- See a dentist regularly for early detection. For children whose molars have just erupted, ask the dentist about fissure sealing.
When should you visit Ky Hoa Dental Clinic?
If a brown or black mark is new, is getting darker every day, or the tooth starts to be sensitive, have a dentist look at it early. Nha Khoa Ky Hoa is at 266A - 268, 3 Thang 2 Street, Hoa Hung Ward, Ho Chi Minh City. You can walk in during opening hours, or call the hotline 028.3868.1097 to ask about quieter times first.
Frequently asked questions
Does a painless black mark on the chewing surface still need a check?
It should be checked. Early decay usually does not hurt, and by the time it does, it is often deeper. Seeing a dentist early keeps treatment simple.
Will scaling remove a brown mark on the chewing surface?
If it is only an outer stain, cleaning can remove it. If it is decay, it will not disappear and the affected part must be removed and filled.
What if my child has a dark mark on a new molar?
Bring your child in early. The grooves of new molars decay very easily, and the dentist can advise on fissure sealing as prevention.