Why do Children’s Permanent Teeth Appear Yellow Than Baby Teeth?

Feb 01, 2022

The pediatric dentist in Austin, TX, and their staff provide comprehensive dental services and treatments to children in Austin and the surrounding areas. The professional hopes to offer children and parents the tools necessary to develop a stable dental foundation for their children. Children lose their primary teeth to allow their permanent teeth to emerge, making oral hygiene and a balanced diet essential than before. As children develop permanent teeth, parents become concerned about why their child’s adult teeth are emerging yellow and seek answers from the dentist to determine the causes.

This article looks at why children develop darker teeth than their baby teeth. If you have a kid at home with similar problems, you benefit by reading this article and helping your child maintain a beautiful smile.

What Causes Yellow or Discolored Teeth?

Yellow teeth are a sign of improper oral hygiene. However, it is not a problem that requires severe concerns. You may have noticed adult teeth with more dentin appear naturally darker than baby teeth. If your child has transparent enamel, the dentin beneath may appear slightly yellow. When your child loses all their baby teeth and has permanent teeth, the color of their teeth will remain uniform and appear less yellow. If you want to confirm whether the yellowing is standard, consult with the dentist near me during your child’s routine appointment for cleanings and exams.

Your child may have underlying issues if their teeth continue remaining yellow. Some of the reasons why children have yellow teeth include the following:

  • Plaque Buildup:Improper oral hygiene among children results in plaque buildup that yellows teeth. It is why the dentist in Austin, TX, recommends children brush their teeth twice a day and floss at least once. In addition, you should help your child with their oral hygiene depending on their age and ability.
  • Mouth or Tooth Injury:Injuries to the mouth or tooth can damage the tooth nerves to cause discoloration and greying. If your child has incurred injuries, call the Austin dentist as soon as possible, seeking treatment.
  • Diet:Foods and beverages are the primary culprits for staining the teeth. If your child consumes tomato sauce, fruit juices, sports drinks, or berries, they might develop stains on their teeth. If the child consumes pigmented foods, they should rinse their mouth with water to avoid staining.

How to Treat the Yellow Teeth of Children?

If your child has developed yellow teeth and you want them to appear whiter, please do not try home remedies without consulting the pediatric dentist. Instead, please schedule an appointment with the dentist to understand how your child can brighten their teeth. The dentist recommends the following:

  • Good Oral Hygiene:Ensure your child brushes and flosses twice a day as recommended by the dental professional. If your child has consumed sugary or acidic foods, get them to brush within 30 minutes or an hour to protect their enamel. Consistent brushing and flossing help keep children’s teeth free from plaque and other staining substances. In addition, brushing and flossing gradually whiten their teeth. You must help your child develop good brushing habits.
  • Dietary Changes:Hard nuts and vegetables like apples, carrots, celery, and pears are not merely healthy but also helpful for cleaning the tooth’s surface when they are chewed. Please encourage your child to snack on these foods instead of their favored chips and snacks. The foods described act as a secondary brushing technique because the tough exterior of these foods scours the teeth. Furthermore, foods like apples contain malic acid found in most over-the-counter whitening kits.

If you don’t succeed with home remedies, consider talking to the dentist for alternatives. You must also discuss with the dentist about intrinsic staining or discoloration visible from inside the tooth.

Pediatric dentists will likely not provide bleaching treatments to children until they are 14. However, children are as young as four or six have received bleaching treatments. Bleaching treatments for children are appropriate if their teeth have discolored from having excessive fluoride, which causes fluorosis.

If your child’s teeth have surface stains due to medications, the dentist in Austin, TX might recommend veneers or bonding to cover the stained tooth. While veneers are not considered an excellent option for children, another treatment like dental bonding applied to the tooth’s surface helps your child have whiter teeth than earlier. However, do not try to use any remedies to whiten children’s teeth without advice from the pediatric dentist.

If you are concerned about your child’s yellow teeth, we recommend you schedule an appointment with Lifetime Smiles Cosmetic Dentistry to find a solution to the problem.

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