Yellow teeth in kids might be the last thing you expect them to have. And of course, this will likely make you worried because, among other things, that’s what they’re best at, isn’t it? Making you worried about a thousand things.

So, why does your kid have yellow teeth? Yellow teeth in children might mean something harmless or something a little bit more serious that will be worth treating at the dental office. Take a look at some of the causes of this and find out what could be happening to your child:

Poor Oral Health 

Tooth discoloration can be caused because your kid is not following a proper

 dental hygiene routine. Not keeping a clean mouth causes a chain of reactions.

The less they clean their teeth, the more plaque and bacteria accumulate. Plaque and stain-producing foods can build up on your child’s teeth if they don’t brush and floss properly, causing that yellowish tone.

Certain Foods and Drinks

As if it wasn’t enough, some drinks and foods can stain teeth if they eat them too often. Some foods to watch out for are: blueberries, tomato sauce, or soy sauce.  

However, certain drinks tend to be the ones to blame. Fruit juices, sports drinks, cola, energy drinks, and other liquids with artificial colors can very much discolor your kid’s teeth. 

So it’s important to monitor how often they consume them and if they’re following an adequate dental hygiene routine.

Medications

Some medications can also cause tooth discoloration. Tetracycline medications may accumulate in the developing teeth of children under the age of eight, darkening the inner structures of their adult teeth. 

Other antibiotics, such as penicillin, have also been linked to causing stains on the dental enamel, appearing yellow, brown, or gray.

Genetic Thin or Weak Enamel

A lot about your child’s health, particularly the strength of their enamel, is determined by genetics. Unfortunately, some children are born with a weaker or thinner enamel than others. 

The pearly white color of teeth comes from the enamel. Because the dentin beneath the enamel is yellowish, a thin covering of enamel might make your child’s teeth appear yellow rather than white.

If you suspect that your child’s enamel is weak or thin, the best is to consult a dentist to ensure that you learn how to properly care for their teeth and reduce their risk of dental decay. 

An Injury To The Teeth Or Mouth 

Blood vessels may rupture when your child’s teeth are injured, causing teeth to appear yellow, brown, gray, or black.

Capillaries within the teeth can burst following trauma, causing blood, specifically hemosiderin, to pool in the canals of the teeth. Tooth enamel may be harmed as a result of the injury.

How to Get Rid of Yellow Teeth in Kids?

Depending on the cause of your child’s yellow teeth, there are a few things you can do to make it go away:

Brush, floss, repeat!

Make sure your child is following a daily dental hygiene routine. And also, provide them with the right tools, a soft-bristled toothbrush will be more gentle on them, and kid-friendly toothpaste will make the process more fun. You can switch to regular toothpaste when they get used to it, which has better cleaning properties.

When they finish eating and mainly when they eat candy or other sugary, sticky snacks, have them brush their teeth within the next hour to stop plaque from forming.

Brushing and flossing regularly will help keep plaque and stain-causing substances off their teeth. Furthermore, it will gradually whiten faint stains over time. You may need to assist younger children in developing healthy brushing habits.

Tooth-Friendly Diet

Children love sweets and snacks that are sticky and sugary. So it’s important to balance that with some other healthy options. Snack on hard fruits and vegetables like apples, carrots, celery, and pears with your little one. 

These meals are not only nutritious, but they may also aid in the cleaning of the tooth’s surface. The harsh shell of these foods may act as a secondary brushing. 

I understand that it’s really hard to remove all the sugary foods from your child’s diet. It’s even hard to eliminate them from our own! However, simply limiting them will go a long way. 

Sugary beverages and acidic foods while you’re at it. Sour sweets, soda, citrus fruits, potato chips, and dried fruits are all known to erode enamel and discolor teeth.

Dental Treatments

When these changes aren’t doing anything to make that yellowish tone go away, it’s time to visit a dentist. You must find out the root cause of yellow teeth in your kids and take action to safeguard their oral health. Some dental treatments are:

• Professional bleaching
• Microabrasion with bleach
• Dental veneers

Some of these treatments may seem a bit too extreme for yellow teeth in children but don’t worry, if you visit Dr. Serena Kurt in San Diego, she’ll make sure to give you the best option according to your child’s needs.

These solutions may or may not apply depending on your kid’s age and the root of their tooth discoloration. Professional bleaching involves the application of sodium hypochlorite to bleach and then a resin to stop any more stains on the teeth.

Microabrasion with bleach is a bit more effective with darker spots and stains. However, it’s not as gentle on the teeth as professional bleaching. Now dental veneers are pretty much the last result.

If the issue is not fixable with any bleaching, you can consult your dentist to see if veneers are a possible solution. There’s the option to get porcelain or composite, which will beautifully cover their tooth and hide the yellow, brown, or dark spots.

Though have in mind that dental veneers are ideal for teeth that don’t use too much force when biting down. In other words, dental veneers are more suitable for front teeth.

Protect Your Child’s Oral Health With Dr. Kurt in San Diego

Please have a chat with your older children and teenagers about their dental insecurities. Teeth play a very important role in self-esteem and confidence. Overall, there are only benefits to teaching your kids to take care of their smiles. 

Consider scheduling a visit with Dr.Kurt, an experienced dentist in Clairemont, to ask for the best and safest alternatives to get rid of yellow teeth in your kid. 

At Serena Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, we’re happy to receive you and your family. Please call us to schedule your first appointment at (858) 800 3909.