One common question asked concerning their children’s oral development is why adult teeth come in with a yellowish color and not white. Many parents wonder if they are failing to help keep their child’s teeth cleaned or properly brushed. They think perhaps something is causing the staining. This is not the case. Adult teeth come in yellow for a number of different reasons and they are not due to neglect. To better understand why adult teeth may come in yellow, Smile Reef will explain.
Why Do Permanent Teeth Come in Yellow?
When your child is around the age of 5 through 7, they will begin to lose their baby teeth and their adult teeth will begin to erupt through. As your child’s adult teeth begin to come through you may notice they are not nearly as white as their baby teeth. Many parents will be concerned as to whether or not something went wrong in the teeth development or if the child isn’t receiving the proper oral care. Before you jump to some major conclusions, do not panic.
Primary or Baby Teeth have Less Dentin
Adult teeth have more dentin which is why they appear darker or a yellowish color. Enamel is also slightly translucent, which allows the yellow pigment of the dentin to show through. Another contributing factor of the yellowish pigment is that as adult teeth are erupting, they have larger nerve canals and they too are transparent. This is why adult teeth appear darker as they are coming out. The yellow pigment looks more dramatic next to the white baby teeth. As your child continues to lose their baby teeth, they will not look nearly as yellow. Over time, the adult teeth will begin to lighten up and become whiter and more uniform. Yellow pigments of adult teeth are completely normal and it isn’t something to be overly concerned about. However, there are some tooth discolorations that may be due to a problem when it comes to teeth development.
Problems That Cause Yellow Teeth
There are some problems that can cause abnormal yellowing of the teeth. Here are Some of the causes that can cause abnormal yellow and are a sign of major oral problems.
• Sugar or Colored Drinks and Food
• Poor Dental Hygiene
• Trauma or Injury to the Jaw or Teeth
• Medication and Supplements
These are some reasons why teeth may develop with abnormal yellowing. The teeth are stained, decayed and weak. If your child has teeth due to any one of these reasons, the teeth will not naturally lighten up or whiten and the yellowing is permanent.
Treatment for Discolored Teeth
If your child has had a problem in their adult teeth development, and the yellow is basically permanent, there are ways to help whiten your child’s teeth. Better oral hygiene may be enough, followed with a good diet. With routine dental cleanings, you can also help your child’s teeth. If yellowing is severe enough that the teeth will not naturally whiten up, once your child is older they can seek out teeth whitening treatments.
Pediatric Dental Care
If you require great pediatric dentistry services for your child, contact Smile Reef and make an appointment today.
