The Color of Permanent Teeth — Smiles for Kids (2024)

FAQs

The Color of Permanent Teeth — Smiles for Kids? ›

The adult teeth have a naturally more translucent outer enamel layer and a thicker second dentin layer, compared to baby teeth. Therefore, the more yellow second layer shows through easily. The baby teeth are whiter and opaquer, with a thinner dentin layer so less yellow shows through.

Since the enamel of permanent teeth is slightly transparent, the yellowish colour of the underlying dentine is shown through it. Therefore, permanent teeth will appear slightly yellowish. As we get older, the dentine increasingly grows thicker, and it is normal that our teeth become more yellowish.

Since dentin has a natural yellow appearance, your child's teeth may look yellow and unmatched if several of their permanent teeth come in at different times. The good news is that this is an entirely normal occurrence. Adult teeth will eventually lose their yellow shade, brightening and whitening over time.

If your child is old enough to start getting their permanent teeth (usually age 6-7), you may notice that these teeth look a bit more yellow compared to their baby teeth. Don't worry. This is normal. There are a few reasons that permanent teeth may look yellow.

While there are other causes of discolored permanent teeth, these discolorations are often caused by a condition called enamel hypoplasia. Enamel hypoplasia has many causes, including genetics, medications, illnesses, and diseases that may have affected your child while in the womb or during early childhood.

Baby teeth, also called primary teeth, are typically whiter than adult permanent teeth because they are more calcified. Baby teeth can become discolored for many reasons, including: Inadequate brushing.

Second, the dentin beneath your enamel is naturally yellow. Since its chemical and structural composition is naturally not perfectly white, it is 100% natural for the teeth to have a slightly yellow tint. However, if your teeth begin to take on a medium or deep yellow shade, then that is cause for alarm.

What Can Be Done to Whiten Yellow Teeth? If you're looking for a radical change in the coloring of your teeth, you need professional-grade whitening to get the job done. Your cosmetic dentist can provide treatment that penetrates deep into the enamel and removes years of stains with a powerful bleaching agent.

Mix about a teaspoon of baking soda with two teaspoons of water to create a paste. Have your child brush their teeth with this paste, and over time, you may see stain removal and a whitening effect. Use hydrogen peroxide: Hydrogen peroxide is a natural bleaching agent that can whiten tooth color.

Non-White or Yellow Teeth are Unhealthy

This myth is peddled by firms which want us to spend a fortune on getting a perfect “movie star” smile. Although heavy staining and yellow plaque deposits aren't healthy, it's very possible for yellowish teeth to be absolutely clean and healthy.

At what age do teeth start to yellow? ›

Their Permanent Teeth Are Starting to Come in

If your child is about 6-7 years old and their permanent teeth have started to erupt, you may notice that their permanent teeth look quite a bit more yellow than their baby teeth. Good news: this is normal.

Genetics Can Affect the Appearance of the Teeth

And in fact, genetics can impact the color of a person's teeth. Thicker, whiter enamel can run in families, just as more transparent tooth enamel can be inherited. Many people have genetically yellow teeth that don't respond well to store-bought whiteners or toothpastes.

Your child should see a dentist within 6 months of the first tooth coming in OR by their first birthday (whichever comes first). Going at a young age can catch problems early.

Their Permanent Teeth Are Starting to Erupt

Permanent teeth have more dentin (the second layer of the tooth below the enamel) and this has a yellowish color. Enamel is slightly translucent, so the color of the dentin may show through.

In general, adult teeth come in darker and more yellow compared to primary (baby) teeth. Permanent teeth are naturally darker because they have more dentin, which is the yellow layer of teeth below the enamel. With proper care, your child's adult teeth will lighten and not appear as yellow as when they first erupted.

The most straightforward fix for yellow teeth is to have them whitened. There are plenty of whitening options but having a dentist whiten your teeth is likely to get the greatest improvement. A dentist can use stronger ingredients than if you were to buy a preparation over the counter.

Natural Enamel Thickness & Translucency

Enamel is on the surface of every tooth and it has a natural hue of white. However, the underlying dentin layer has a slightly yellowish color. This yellowish hue shows through the enamel in almost everyone, but more so for those with naturally thinner or more translucent enamel.

Using a four-shade guide, most people have teeth that are A3 in color, meaning that they are somewhat reddish brown. This is considered the average, natural tooth shade. Nowadays, however, many people want their teeth to look whiter and brighter and are requesting that their A3 teeth improve in color.

A dying tooth may appear yellow, light brown, gray, or even black. It may look almost as if the tooth is bruised. The discoloration will increase over time as the tooth continues to decay and the nerve dies. If you experience any symptoms of a dying tooth, it's important to see your dentist right away.

However, years of chewing and grinding take a toll, causing the enamel to slowly wear away. Enamel loss makes the yellow dentin in the tooth more visible, causing a yellowish tint. Food and drinks also play a role in age-related tooth discoloration.