Why are teeth so many different colors?
- Gray: Is from being mineralized in the Hawthorne formation which is a gray clay.
- Tan: Is from being mineralized in Sand
- Red : Usually from early on set of Tannin
- If you have ever seen fresh water rivers that have a tea colored water this is usually caused by Tannin. Tannin is decayed leaves and bark. As the leaves decay in fresh water pockets on the bottom of these rivers the water becomes acidic,the leaves deteriorate and leaves an iron residue on the tooth.
- Brown : Brown teeth are usually from being in Tannin and Leaves too long
- Iron deposits build up from leaf decay trapped in pockets along the bottom. The iron starts building up on the teeth. Sometimes the iron coating can get very thick and is not removable as the iron has bonded to the tooth.
- White: White color teeth are usually from being replaced by calcium carbonate sediment (broken down seashells)
- A Great example of white color teeth are found in Summerville SC teeth. White teeth can also be caused from to much acid by Tannin (acidic burning).This would be in areas that the tooth is exposed on a flat bottom where the leaves don’t have a chance to accumulate. Such as tidal areas that removes the leaves stopping the accumulation of iron deposits.
- Orange: Orange is found from iron in a sandy type sediment. Georgia red clay is a great example. You can also find iron rich sand off shore in North Carolina.
- Black: Black teeth are usually caused by anaerobic bacteria or a black mud.
- There are many other colors teeth come in: yellow, green,off-white etc
Teeth have the ability to take on many other colors from the minerals they come in contact with.