As adult teeth form and develop, the structure of the tooth is stronger from the baby teeth. Children often start out with whiter teeth, only for them to fall out and their permanent teeth grow in, but look more yellow than white. We have several parents asking us why their new teeth look yellow, which we commonly see happen around ages 6-7 as teeth start to fall out, and permanent teeth grow into place.
Permanent Teeth and Baby Teeth
One common thing we remind parents is that baby teeth are whiter in appearance, and the new teeth are going to look quite dark compared to their baby teeth. Permanent teeth have a greater amount of dentin, which is a yellow color. Primary (baby) teeth do not have the same amount of dentin, so they tend to have a whiter look as the enamel is translucent and there isn’t as much of the yellow dentin to shine through. As all the adult teeth eventually grow into place, the smile starts to become blended and doesn’t appear as yellow.
Teeth Whitening for Kids?
We do not recommend teeth whitening for children. We advise parents it is best to wait for all the permanent teeth to develop prior to starting any type of treatment to change the color of the teeth. The problem is, if you end up whitening when the child only has a few permanent teeth, the new teeth that will grow in later will not match.
Brushing Habits Start Young
The best thing parents can do for their children is to make sure they are brushing on a daily basis. Keeping the teeth free from plaque and bacteria will allow the enamel to remain strong and prevent serious cavities from occurring. Contact Mountain View Pediatric Dentistry today to discuss your child’s smile.