Are you worried about your kid’s pearly whites turning into slightly yellow teeth? You don’t need to worry. It’s a common occurrence. When kids grow up, their favorite food is generally soda and candy. Overconsumption of these kinds of foods often leads to teeth discoloration. As a parent, you might be thinking about professional teeth whitening as a remedy.
But teeth whitening for kids are totally different from adults. There are specific criteria that kids need to fulfill to have teeth whitening. But first of all, it’s vital for you as a parent to understand the causes behind teeth discoloration, its prevention, and the procedure for kid’s teeth whitening.
Most Common Causes of Kids Getting Yellow Teeth
- Maternal intake of tetracycline drugs while breastfeeding or being pregnant.
- Stains due to colored and acidic foods.
- Genetic disorders.
- Loss of enamel because of braces removal or any infections.
- Lack of proper dental hygiene.
- Kids consuming excess fluoride through the solution of infant and fluoridated water.
- Kids having Tetracycline antibodies due to intake of some drugs.
- Tooth degeneration due to any illness or infection.
- Trauma to tooth or nerves due to an accident.
- Serious medical complications can hamper the development of teeth when the child is an infant.
- Consumption of vitamin supplements, especially the ones containing iron.
Possibility of Teeth Whitening for Kids
The American Academy of Paediatric Dentistry experts warns against over-the-counter teeth whitening products for kids as studies are still going on regarding their harmful effects on teeth. Thus, you should also avoid using whitening strips for teeth whitening of kids. You can, however, consult your trusted dentist for professional teeth whitening.
Professional teeth whitening is also conditional in kids. First of all, your kids should have all their permanent teeth erupted. The enamel of their teeth should be wholly calcified, and there should not be any orthodontic treatment pending. The dentist will also check for cavities in your kids’ teeth. Your kid might go through teeth pain if cavities are not filled before the teeth whitening.Therefore whitening is not possible with cavities in teeth.
If your kid’s teeth are already sensitive, you should avoid professional teeth whitening because of the bleach application used in theteeth whitening process. But all these factors came into consideration once your child reaches the age of 16 years. This is because adult teeth start coming after the age of 16 years only.
Prevention & Remedies for Yellow Teeth in Kids
As you can see, teeth whitening are not a totally viable option for kids. Thus it would be best to do everything in your control to stop the teeth discoloration of your kids. Try the following methods:-
- Choose whitening toothpaste for your kids. It’s better if your dentist prescribes it.
- Make them follow the practice of brushing twice and flossing once a day.
- Stop them from over-indulging in acidic and strong-colored foods like candies and sodas. Try to inculcate the habit of eating healthy food in them.
- Teeth discoloration starts when their enamel gets degenerated. Often the sugar is the leadingcause of enamel damage in kids.So try to make your kids eat fruits with natural sugars instead of sweetened drinks and ice-creams.
- Don’t try DIY teeth whitening strips on kids. These strips contain enamel damaging agents like hydrogen peroxide. There is also a fear of your child choking on the whitening strips.
- Above all, keep an eye on the causes of teeth discoloration explained in this article. And get your kid’s teeth checked with a professional at regular intervals.
To Summarize!
The aim of providing all this information through this article is to make you aware. And it would be best if you can educate your kids about the causes of teeth discoloration and the importance of dental hygiene. You should also get proper consultation andappropriateteeth whitening solutionsfor your kid from your dentist. Good habits and a healthy lifestyle can fulfil your kid’s desire fora white and bright smile.
Author Bio:
Dr. Anu Isaac, DMD, runs a successful dental practice in Salem, MA. Dr. Isaac strives for quality on a daily basis and this commitment to quality is reflected in her constant pursuit of advanced training. Her firm belief that even experts need to stay updated about what’s new in the dental field, enables her to provide every patient with optimal oral care. As the founder of Coral Dental Care, she is dedicated to creating healthy, beautiful smiles for her patients and also to educating dental and non-dental communities with her engaging articles on all things related to oral health, recent dental innovations, and latest treatment modalities.
