Because teeth whitening is an adult cosmetic procedure, our Thornhill dentists do not advise it for kids or teenagers. There are principally two causes for this:
1. Their teeth are probably not actually discoloured.
When compared to the baby teeth still present in the mouth, parents occasionally notice that their children's erupting adult teeth appear a little yellow. They enquire as a result about the wisdom of having their kids' teeth whitened.
Adult teeth, on the other hand, typically appear more yellow than baby teeth. This occurs because the layer of the tooth directly under the enamel, called dentin, is significantly more abundant in adult teeth. When adult teeth are placed next to baby teeth in the mouth, the colour of dentin, which is yellow, can cause the adult teeth to appear unusually yellow.
This perceived discolouration typically sorts itself out once all the baby teeth have fallen out. For this reason, whitening is usually completely unnecessary for children and young teens.
2. We don’t know if whitening is safe for developing teeth.
Because it is currently unknown whether teeth whitening procedures on children are safe, the majority of dentists will not perform them. It's best to err on the side of caution because there isn't much information available about how teeth that are still developing would respond to whitening agents.
Causes of tooth discolouration in kids
There are many possible causes of teeth discolouration in children:
- Poor dental hygiene habits
- Pigmentation due to food and beverage stains
- Intake of medications that contain iron (vitamin supplements)
- Decalcification of enamel due to the removal of braces
- Nerve damage or tooth trauma
- Excessive fluoride due to use of infant formula combined with fluoridated water
- Tooth decay
- Mother is taking tetracycline while pregnant or breastfeeding
- Medical conditions that hinder teeth development during infancy
How to help them prevent staining
Because teeth whitening procedures are not an option, your child or teen can use whitening toothpaste to help prevent staining and discoloration. Furthermore, foods and beverages that cause staining, such as dark sodas, can be avoided.
If you want to learn more about teeth whitening for children, you can reach out to one of the dentists at RV Dental.