As your child grows up, their permanent teeth start to come in and replace their baby teeth. These are exciting times for you and your child as their smile changes and grows. But if you noticed discoloration, you may be wondering about their oral health. Is it okay for kids’ teeth to be yellow?
Request an Appointment
There’s good news! It’s common for children’s adult teeth to have a yellowish cast at first. This article aims to help you understand why your child’s teeth are yellow so you can avoid unnecessary worry and support your child’s oral hygiene.
What Causes Teeth to Turn Yellow?
Your child’s teeth may be turning yellow for several different reasons. Here are some possibilities to consider:
Thin enamel:Tooth dentin, which is yellowish in color, exists below the enamel — the hard, white outer layer of the tooth. If your child has thin enamel, the yellowish dentin beneath can become more visible, causing their teeth to look yellow. Thin enamel can be a result of poor hygiene or family genetics.
Staining from food and drinks:Many foods and beverages can stain teeth’s enamel, including soda, coffee, tea, lemon, tomato sauce and dark-colored berries. Over time, these tooth stains can build up and cause your child’s teeth to take on a yellow hue.
Poor hygiene:Poor hygiene can contribute to yellowing teeth in children as well as adults. Your child will experience staining foods and plaque buildup that only proper oral hygiene can help prevent. Without proper hygiene, your child’s teeth may even start accumulating tartar, which can contribute to yellow teeth andmore serious dental health conditions.
Cavities:Tooth decay, or cavities, will also contribute to yellowing teeth. As teeth decay, they can take on a yellow and brownish color. Cavities are themost common dental issuethat a child can experience.
Why Are My Child’s Permanent Teeth Coming in Yellow?
One of the leading causes of yellow teeth in children is that their adult teeth are coming in. It’s common for adult teeth to appear yellow when they first erupt.
Permanent teeth contain more dentin than baby teeth. 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’s teeth are uneven in their coloring now because their permanent teeth are erupting, just give it some time. As long as they follow good oral hygiene practices, the color should even out into a white smile again.
How to Prevent Yellow Teeth
Here’s some more good news — you can take measures to prevent yellow teeth for your child, whether their teeth are starting to yellow or still completely white. Here are some tips to prevent yellowing teeth:
Teach and help your child with good oral hygiene:Good oral hygiene is the key to keeping your child’s teeth as white as possible. Proper hygiene practices include brushing, flossing and using mouthwash to keep your child’s teeth fresh and clean. You should help your child with their oral health care when they are first getting started. Be sure to educate them on why these practices are important and encourage them to continue caring for their teeth as they get older.
Encourage a healthy diet:Diet plays a huge role in your child’s oral health. The foods they eat can provide nutrients and textures for strong, clean teeth, but some foods can contribute to tooth decay and discoloration. Fresh fruits, vegetables and items high in dairy and vitamin D are excellent choices for your child’s long-term oral health.
Take your child to the dentist:Another essential aspect of preventing your child’s teeth from yellowing is taking them to a pediatric dentist. At these visits, your child’s dentist will clean their teeth with professional tools and solutions to remove plaque and ensure they are as clean as possible. They’ll also help teach your child how to practice good oral hygiene at home.
Call To Schedule An Appointment
How Do I Fix My Child’s Yellow Teeth?
If your child has yellow teeth, it’s normal to want to intervene to make them white again. In some instances — for example, if the yellowing is a result of newly erupted adult teeth — you may be able to let time do its magic. New adult teeth will whiten over time, so everything should work itself out.
If your child’s yellow teeth are a result of forgetting oral hygiene practices or eating the wrong diet, then now is the time to make the proper change. You can start helping them improve their dental hygiene routine to prevent further yellowing and even reduce some of the discoloration that has already occurred. Helping them choose a healthier diet can also help avoid the harmful effects of sugary, starchy foods that contribute to cavities and tooth staining.
Should I Whiten My Kid’s Teeth?
Yellow teeth are a common occurrence in children. However, they still make some parents feel self-conscious, which often leads to them wanting to whiten their children’s teeth. If you’re wondering if you should get your child’s teeth whitened, you may want to consider the options in the previous section instead.
Children’s tooth enamel is weaker in their baby teeth than in their permanent teeth. Since the whitening process can cause enamel damage and increase tooth sensitivity, we encourage parents to avoid whitening their children’s teeth.
Feel free to contact us about whitening your child’s teeth if they are experiencing extreme staining or feelings of embarrassment about their yellow teeth. We’d love to help you determine the next proper step for your child’s dental care to help them smile with confidence.
Choose Sprout Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics
At, we have thepediatric dental servicesyour child needs for clean teeth and a healthy smile. We knowchoosing a pediatric dentistfor your child is an important decision. That’s why we emphasize the best service possible, so you and your child both look forward to visiting our office every time.
To take the next step for your child’s dental health, we invite you to contact us today torequest an appointmentat our Portland, Oregon, pediatric dental office.
Request an Appointment
Dr. Dana Fox
Dr. Danagrew up in Portlandand went to Temple University in Philadelphia, PA for dental school. She then moved to Anchorage, AK for herresidency in Pediatric Dentistry. Dr. Dana takes a holistic approach to pediatric dentistry & is able to use her own parenting experience to sympathize and understand each family’s unique dynamic.
Without proper hygiene, your child's teeth may even start accumulating tartar, which can contribute to yellow teeth and more serious dental health conditions. Cavities: Tooth decay, or cavities, will also contribute to yellowing teeth. As teeth decay, they can take on a yellow and brownish color.
When kids don't thoroughly brush and floss their teeth, plaque builds up on the enamel. This can lead to a dull or yellow appearance. Having kids floss once daily and brush at least twice a day will prevent plaque from sticking.
For stains from food and drink or plaque on the tooth's surface, you might try making a paste from a few drops of lemon juice and baking soda. Once per week, simply combine the two ingredients and have your child brush their teeth with them. Leave on for 1 or 2 minutes before brushing again, then rinsing well.
Yes, most stains can easily be lifted from the teeth with professional whitening treatments. The strength of our treatments help patients transform their smile to a dazzling white! It is important to note that internal stains are more difficult to remove.
In adults, low vitamin D status can lead to gingivitis and periodontal disease. Does vitamin D deficiency cause yellow teeth? Yes, vitamin D deficiency can show up as yellow teeth. Yellow or brown spots on teeth are a symptom of rickets, a condition caused by chronic low levels of vitamin D.
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.
Baking soda can be used with some water to remove the stains on the surface of the teeth. It can also be used with hydrogen peroxide to enhance its whitening effects. Baking soda can be used by individuals with regular toothpastes too. It is also used commercially in some teeth whitening products and toothpastes.
Acids can destroy some of the stain molecules on teeth to reveal a whiter smile. But whitening your teeth with vinegar isn't safe. It can result in tooth enamel damage and, ultimately, more yellow-looking teeth. The same acidity that provides whitening will also wear away on tooth enamel.
Most children lose all of their baby teeth and have all their adult teeth by the time they are 12 or 13 years old, and enamel calcification takes about two more years. Therefore, children should not bleach their teeth until about 14 or 15 years old.
Brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and flossing once daily can help remove plaque from teeth and prevent tartar from forming. Other home remedies that can prevent plaque buildup include brushing the teeth with baking soda toothpaste and using a water flosser.
Baking-powder eliminates stains on the surface of your teeth and lemon juice as we already said has multiple components that lighten teeth. Just mix a teaspoon of baking powder and a teaspoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice and brush your teeth with the paste this mixture will work wonders in just two minutes.
"Strawberries contain citric acid which may give teeth a very temporary whiter appearance after you apply it," she says. But that doesn't mean the stains on your teeth have been removed. The acid from the berries breaks down your tooth enamel and causes dehydration.
Some health conditions cause teeth discoloration, including liver disease, celiac disease, calcium deficiency, eating disorders and metabolic diseases. Certain medications. Some medications, like certain antihistamines and drugs for high blood pressure, can result in teeth discoloration.
Even having an iron deficiency will not create yellow teeth. Though taking an iron supplement when you have a deficiency may cause teeth staining. We know that citrus fruits are damaging because of the ascorbic acid – which is essentially Vitamin C.
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.
To perform this “trick,” take a banana, orange, or lemon peel and gently rub it on your teeth. Keep rubbing it for about 2 minutes, then thoroughly wash your mouth and brush your teeth. The peels of these fruits contain citric acid, which theoretically helps in teeth whitening.
Using a paste made of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide is said to remove plaque buildup and bacteria to get rid of stains. Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda with 2 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide to make a paste. Rinse your mouth thoroughly with water after brushing with this paste.
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.
The thickness of your enamel can be inherited, meaning yours might be thicker or more transparent depending on what runs in your family. The yellow-brown layer underneath the enamel (dentin) is more noticeable when the enamel is thin, making your smile look darker or more yellow.
As we get older, the porous outer layer of enamel on our teeth begins to thin. This allows the naturally yellow material beneath it, called dentin, to show through more prominently. The thinner your enamel, the more dentin shows through, giving your teeth a yellow tint.
If baby teeth aren't brushed properly, bacteria (plaque) might form on the teeth — which can lead to tooth discoloration. Medication use. Infant medications containing iron, such as supplemental vitamins, might cause stains on baby teeth.
Address: 743 Stoltenberg Center, Genovevaville, NJ 59925-3119
Phone: +2202978377583
Job: Administration Engineer
Hobby: Surfing, Sailing, Listening to music, Web surfing, Kitesurfing, Geocaching, Backpacking
Introduction: My name is Rubie Ullrich, I am a enthusiastic, perfect, tender, vivacious, talented, famous, delightful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
