• Home
  • Contact
  • Blog
Emergency Line 212-267-0029
HealthFlex
×
  • Meet the Doctor
  • Services
    • Sedation Dentistry
    • Tooth cleaning and polishing
    • Tooth Colored Fillings and Sealants
    • Prevention
    • Digital X-rays
    • Teeth maintenance
    • Tooth Extractions
    • Laser Dentistry
  • Children’s Dental Topics
    • How to Avoid Fear of the Dentist
    • Tips For Infant Oral Health
    • Care of Your Child’s Teeth
    • Cavity Prevention
    • Digital X-rays
    • Diet & Dental Health
    • Eruption and Exfoliation Schedule
    • Mouth Guards/Protectors
    • Pacifiers
    • Perinatal & Infant Oral Health
    • Sippy Cups
    • Sports Drinks & Sodas
    • Thumb Sucking
    • Tooth Grinding
  • Pediatric Dental Emergencies
    • Toothache
    • Knocked-Out Teeth
    • Cut or Bite on Cheek, Lip or Tongue
    • Maxillary Frenum Tear
    • Severe Blow to the Head
    • Possible Broken or Fractured Jaw
  • Online Booking

Why Do My Child’s Teeth Look Yellow?

Why Do My Child’s Teeth Look Yellow?
August 24, 2021Kids

I’m occasionally asked this question by parents of my NYC pediatric dental patients. In our society, white teeth are a sign of health and youthfulness so, when parents perceive their child’s teeth as yellowish, they become concerned. Here are some reasons that kids’ teeth can yellow.

1. Rinse their mouth with plain warm water mixed with a teaspoon of table salt.

While any parent may notice yellowing of their child’s teeth, it’s especially common for parents of children between the ages of 6 and 9. There’s an easy explanation for this. Children in that age group generally have a combination of primary (baby) teeth and permanent (adult) teeth, called mixed dentition. Because primary teeth have thinner enamel and less dentin than adult teeth, they appear whiter than adult teeth. By comparison, permanent teeth have more dentin, which is yellowish. When baby teeth are positioned next to permanent teeth, the permanent teeth appear more yellow. Contrary to our culture’s obsession with bright white teeth, permanent teeth are normally slightly yellow.

2. Tooth Death

Poor dental hygiene or trauma can cause a tooth to die, and a dying tooth can appear yellow (as well as light brown, gray or even black). This discoloration increases as the tooth continues to decay and the nerve dies. This is an extremely rare occurrence in children and something we would notice at your child’s twice yearly exams.

3. Environmental Factors

If you notice yellowing of your teen’s teeth, it may be caused by lifestyle choices.

Does your child vape or smoke (cigarettes or marijuana)? Does she drink a great deal of soda, coffee or tea? Does he fail to brush and/or floss as a regular, twice-daily habit? These choices can result in yellowed teeth.

Certain medications are known to discolor teeth, including Amoxicillin, a very popular antibiotic for ear infections, and Doxycycline and Tetracycline, which are often used to treat acne. If your child is on one or more of these medications, it may be the cause of yellow teeth.

Solutions to Yellow Teeth in Pediatric Patients

We generally advise parents that, in kids with mixed dentition, once the permanent teeth are all in they will not notice yellowing, as the whiter baby teeth will no longer be present. For older children, a good cleaning with stain removal may be all that’s needed to restore a more “pearly white” appearance. We generally discourage patients from the more aggressive dental whitening unless they are in their late teens.

Call us at our Lower Manhattan pediatric dentist office with your concerns and needs. If we haven’t seen your child(ren) in the past six months, please make an appointment! You can reach us at 212-267-0029.

Add Comment Cancel


Recent Posts

  • How much Sugar is hiding in your food?
  • What’s in Your Toothpaste?
  • Most Sports-Related Dental Injuries Are Preventable and Treatable
  • Secondhand Smoke and Gum Disease in Children
  • Holiday Dental Emergencies

Recent Comments

    Categories

    • Articles
    • Kids
    • Teens

    Request Appointment

      Your Name (required)

      Your Email (required)

      Reason for visit

      Your Message

      Latest Articles

      Archives

      • August 2021
      • July 2018
      • June 2018
      • May 2018
      • April 2018
      • March 2018
      • February 2018
      • January 2018
      • December 2017
      • November 2017
      • October 2017
      • September 2017
      • August 2017
      • July 2017
      • June 2017
      • May 2017
      • April 2017
      • March 2017
      • February 2017
      • December 2016
      • November 2016
      • October 2016
      • September 2016
      • August 2016
      • July 2016
      • June 2016
      • May 2016
      • April 2016
      • March 2016
      • February 2016
      • January 2016
      • December 2015
      • November 2015
      • October 2015
      • September 2015
      • August 2015
      • July 2015
      • June 2015
      • May 2015
      • April 2015
      • March 2015
      • February 2015
      • January 2015
      • December 2014
      • November 2014
      • October 2014
      • September 2014
      • August 2014
      • July 2014

      ismileKids

      Welcome to iSmile Kids Pediatric Dentistry. We have a passion to provide optimal oral health care for infants, children and adolescents!

      • 212-267-0029
      • mail@iSmileKids.com
      • Trinity Building 111 Broadway, 17th Floor New York, N.Y. 10006

      Quick Links

      • Meet the Doctor
      • Services
      • Contact
      • Request an Appointment

      Latest Articles

      • How much Sugar is hiding in your food? Aug 24

        All of my NYC pediatric dental patients’ parents know that...

      • What’s in Your Toothpaste? Aug 24

        Have you seen the credit card commercials with the line,...

      Copyright ©2021 all rights reserved
      Developed by OBT Creative