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What Causes Yellow Teeth in Kids | Best Idea And Analysis

What Causes Yellow Teeth in Kids

For adults, teeth discoloration is almost a normal thing. After years, adult teeth take on a new composition and tone which allows them to discolor easily. This is more so when the person has a thin enamel. However, yellow teeth are a totally different thing with kids. Normally, babies are expected to have white and healthy teeth, but when there’s a discoloration, it’s often a sign that something is wrong.

If you’ve just noticed that your kid’s teeth are growing yellow and have no idea what could be causing it, you’re in the right place. This article will help you find out What Causes Yellow Teeth in Kids? and what could be wrong and suggest effective remedies you can employ.

Should You Be Worried?

Frankly? sometimes, it is right to be a little alarmed when your child’s teeth start becoming yellow. Tooth discoloration can be a result of some internal factors which are often somewhat difficult to treat. However, the stains could also be because of some external factors which you can easily fix. It all depends on what’s causing it.

Possible Causes of Yellow Teeth in Children 

Food Stains

Certain foods have a track record of leaving the teeth and entire mouth stained after they’re eaten. Some even go ahead to weaken the enamel, which is that hard white substance covering the crown of a tooth. Anything from grape juice and cranberry juice to blueberries fall under this category. If your kids take any of these foods often, make sure to encourage them to rinse their mouth with water after eating or drinking. This will help minimize the effect of this discoloring foods.

Poor Brushing

The only thing that interests many kids is fun. And let’s face it, to children, brushing teeth isn’t exactly fun to them. As a parent, you know how much hassle you sometimes have to go through to get your kid to brush their teeth. When they finally agree to brush, they can’t wait to be done with it so they quickly sweep the brush through their teeth a few times and that’s it. If you suspect that your child isn’t brushing the proper way then you might want to supervise your child closely as he or she brushes. Make sure the child brushes every morning and before bed at night.

Jaundice

Infant Jaundice, a liver condition that often causes a baby’s eyes and skin to become yellow, can also manifest in the form of teeth discoloration. Jaundice in infants usually occurs when there’s too much bilirubin, a yellow pigment of red blood cells, in the baby’s blood. This condition is quite common in babies but will usually go away after a while without treatment. That said, it is still important to see a pediatrician just so you can receive professional advice on which steps to take.

Medicines

Some medications that children take contain substances that can easily cause their child teeth to discolor. For example, drugs that contain iron can easily discolor a child’s teeth. Also, tetracycline, antibiotics, and doxycycline are known agents of discoloration where children’s teeth are concerned.

In fact, babies whose mothers took medications such as tetracycline during pregnancy often have yellow teeth because the medication binds the child’s teeth and stain them. You should also be weary of mouth rinses and washes that contain chlorhexidine or cetylpyridinium chloride as they can also stain your child’s teeth.

Fluorosis

Another possible cause of your child’s yellow teeth is fluorosis. If this is the case, then the effects are irreversible. Fluorosis happens when a child has consumed more fluoride than is necessary, especially during their early years. The effect of this excessive intake of fluoride is that cells responsible for forming enamel become damaged. Consequently, this results in the yellowing of the kid’s teeth. Fluoride is abundant in toothpastes. Hence, ensure your child brushes will only a little portion. Also, make sure that the child doesn’t swallow the paste while brushing.

Congenital Disorders

Certain disorders that the child has had from birth can be a cause. As a matter of fact, there are plenty of such conditions that children experience. Some include dentin defects, enamel hypoplasia, metabolic disorders, and some inherited conditions. In many cases, it turns out that Infants with yellow teeth suffer from an underlying condition responsible for teeth discoloration.

Genetic Factors – causes yellow teeth

Genetics is more important than most people consider it to be. It goes as far as affecting how our teeth look. Some children are naturally born with very weak enamel. And once the enamel which is responsible for giving the teeth that clean whitish color is weak, the teeth can easily get yellow or discolored. This is mainly because of the fact that the layer under the enamel has a yellowish color. Therefore, when the enamel is too thin, it becomes transparent thus revealing the yellow layer from beneath.

Injuries 

An injury inside the mouth can be all it takes to change the color of your child’s teeth. What often happens is that a capillary within the teeth bursts. As this happens, a brown substance composed of ferric oxide known as hemosiderin pours onto the teeth canals and changes the color of the teeth. To rectify things, it is important that you visit a qualified dentist.

Supplements  

Did you know that iron supplements and metallic salts are quite a popular trigger of yellow teeth in kids?  In fact, antiseptics that come in throat sprays and toothpaste can cause discoloration as well. You should discourage your child from using too many throat sprays and also make sure to brush their teeth thoroughly to get the stains out.

Development of Permanent Teeth

As your child grows, so do their teeth. If your child is between the age of 6 and 7 years, then there’s a big chance that they’re starting to grow adult teeth. At this stage, it is absolutely normal for the child’s teeth to become slightly yellow. You need not worry. Once their baby teeth are all replaced with an adult once, the teeth will become clearer and lighter.

Conclusion

All it takes to remove yellow stains sometimes is to brush your child’s teeth thoroughly at least twice every day. You can even use baking soda and water to brush the teeth. This solution has been proven to be effective. Also, if you’re considering bleaching, only do it when you have the permission of a dentist.