Stained Teeth Treatment for Kids and Teens in Brooklyn, NY

Usually, a child’s primary or baby teeth are whiter than their permanent teeth, but even baby teeth can become discolored for the following reasons which include:

• Brushing your baby’s teeth incorrectly as this allows plaque bacteria to form on the teeth, in turn causing tooth discoloration.
• Some medications, including supplemental vitamins or those containing iron, can cause stains. If you take tetracycline during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, your child’s teeth may develop with gray or brown stains.
• When a child has a single discolored tooth, it could be the result of a dental injury. Trauma to the tooth can affect the pulp in the center, causing the blood vessels in the pulp to bleed.
• Children with weak tooth enamel, a condition called enamel hypoplasia, are more likely to have discolored baby teeth. The weaker tooth enamel is thinner than normal and more susceptible to staining and tooth decay.
• Dental fluorosis is a condition caused when infants receive too much fluoride while their teeth are still developing. It can cause white or brown spots on teeth that, although unsightly, are harmless.
• Children born with hyperbilirubinemia, where they have too much bilirubin in their blood, can have baby teeth with a yellow or greenish tinge.

How We Can Help

If you have noticed your child’s teeth look stained, book a checkup with our pediatric dentists. We can evaluate their teeth to determine the reason they have discolored and can provide appropriate treatment. Potential treatments are listed below.

Microabrasion

One possible solution is microabrasion, where a tiny amount of tooth enamel is removed from the affected teeth. The process uses a special compound that leaves behind a smooth and whiter layer of enamel. It can be useful in improving the appearance of superficial stains or pits in teeth. Afterward, the results are permanent.

Teeth Whitening

We are often asked about teeth whitening for kids. Generally, it is best to wait to whiten children’s teeth until their primary teeth have fallen out and are replaced with their adult teeth.

If you are interested in whitening solutions, we can discuss suitable options with and when best to use them. Please don’t use over-the-counter tooth whitening products as these are designed for adults and will not be suitable or safe for children.

Dental Crowns

If a tooth is severely stained or perhaps has sustained some form of dental trauma, our doctors may suggest a tooth-colored crown to cover it.

We can provide beautiful ceramic crowns are very lifelike and cosmetically pleasing and which will hide the discolored tooth entirely.

Oral Care

Your child needs a good oral care routine to keep their teeth strong, white, and healthy. They must brush their teeth for at least two minutes twice a day, just the same as you. Most children require supervision until they are seven or eight to make sure they are brushing their teeth thoroughly. Once the teeth come into contact with each other, you must begin to floss between them.

Although your child may not be eager to brush and floss regularly, it is important to stick to a consistent, habit-building routine. You can set the example by brushing your teeth with them and make sure they have a child-friendly toothbrush and toothpaste that they like using.

Also, we love working with kids directly. We can show them the proper techniques for brushing and flossing and gently educate them as to why oral care is so important, using age-appropriate words and terminology they can easily understand.

When your child’s permanent teeth come in, you may notice they look yellower compared with their baby teeth, which is perfectly natural. However, if you are ever concerned about the color of your child’s teeth or other oral health issues, please come and see our Pediatric Dentistry Center located on Ocean Ave in Brooklyn, NY.

Pediatric Dentistry Center
2148 Ocean Ave, Ste 401A
Brooklyn, NY 11229
☎ 718-339-1810