Blackening teeth

Jewelry Discussion
1

Dear List,

I tend to agree with John Burgess about sulphur compound probably not
being responsible for the effect.

I have seen this effect occur with people under one of two
circumstances. (Of course there might be several other reasons!)

  1. Certain antibiotics taken over a fairly long period of time.

  2. Medicines made from silver compounds (this with certain people
    only). This latter also (in the same persons) had the effect of making
    fingernails look blue or strongly bluish.

Anyone else know of this?

Nariman.

2 
   2. Medicines made from silver compounds (this with certain
people only). This latter also (in the same persons) had the effect
of making fingernails look blue or strongly bluish.

I used to know the name of this condition, something like “arlagia”.
Afflicted workers engaged in packing industrial quantities of silver
nitrate for the photographic industry. Not just fingernails, but skin
too I believe.

But this effect arises from long term exposure. The finely divided
silver grows into the tissues from the inside. OTOH, you don’t have
to be around silver nitrate for long to discover that it quickly
produces black stains on your skin, which only really disappear when
the skin is replaced naturally. Could the same happen to teeth?
Don’t know, but possible. Wasn’t gargling with (very) dilute silver
nitrate once put forward as an aid for smokers who wanted to
quit…supposed to make the smoke taste louse (which it always did
for me anyway). I recall it from around early 80’s or so. None of
which helps explain the mystery of the supposedly
liver-of-sulphur-blackened teeth though.

Kevin  (NW England,  UK)
3 
    you don't have to be around silver nitrate for long to discover
that it quickly produces black stains on your skin, which only
really disappear when the skin is replaced naturally.

G’day; You don’t have to put up with silver stained skin; simply rub
a little iodine solution into the stain, the wash well with
photographic hypo (sodium thiosulphate) and it will remove the stain
painlessly. Wash with soap and water afterwards. PS: I find it very
hard to believe sulphur causes blackened teeth. John Burgess