Nothing beats a healthy white smile. So, when your child’s teeth begin to discolor, you raise concerns and worry. As much as this seems like something bad is ‘cooking behind the scenes,’ it’s also important to learn not always do discolored teeth show a problem.
To maintain the white and healthy teeth of your child, you will need to understand the causes of the discoloration at first. The good news is that discoursed teeth are irreversible. Therefore, let’s get to the root of the problem.
Genetics
Did you know that your genes take part in the shape, structure, and development of your teeth? A genetic tooth disorder like Dentinogenesis Imperfecta causes weak teeth that are prone to easy breakage and discoloration. This affects both baby and adult.
Conversely, there’s another tooth genetic disorder called Amelogenesis Imperfecta that causes a fault in the protein in the enamel layer. When the enamel is not functioning, the teeth begin to turn grey, brown, or yellow and also break easily due to a lack of enamel protection.
Antibiotics
Certain antibiotics will chemically fuse to calcium that the body uses to form developing teeth. When this happens, the antibiotics will form a crystal that is in a different color from the milk-white enamel. This color changes further with exposure to the sun or ultraviolet rays.
Such antibiotics are tetracycline and doxycycline, which discolor developing teeth of below eight years kids. Moreover, some mouthwashes comprising chlorhexidine and cetylpyridinium chloride can also cause teeth staining. It would help if you consulted renowned dentists like the dentists in Bangalore to advice on the solution against antibiotic teeth staining in your child.
Fluoride
Fluorosis is a condition that affects the teeth and comes by extreme exposure to fluoride within the first eight years of life. At this time, the calcium in your body is busy forming permanent teeth.
Overexposure to fluoride through toothpaste or fluoridated drinks may cause staining of the teeth. In mild cases, fluorosis appears mildly discolored with lacy white streaks on the enamel. However, severe cases have your child’s teeth looking either yellow or dark brown.
Enamel Defect
Enamel defect or hypoplasia only occurs while teeth are young and still developing. Also, it can affect both baby teeth and adult teeth. Hypoplasia causes your enamel to thin hence making your teeth weak and vulnerable to dental decay.
The obvious and noticeable symptoms of enamel hypoplasia consist of tiny fissures or groves, white spots, yellowish-brown stains, sensitivity to hot or cold and increased tooth decay and cavities on the external surface of the teeth.
Moreover, tooth enamel is the hardest element in your body, but it doesn’t have living cells and can’t heal or recover by itself. Thus, if you or your child has enamel hypoplasia, you’ll need to book a dentist appointment to quickly repair the problem areas.
Dental Injury
Dental injury or trauma is also another familiar cause of teeth discoloration in children. For instance, in sports, kids tend to get hurt accidentally, including in the mouth. When the younger than eight years old gets hit in the mouth, the injury/trauma can disturb the formation of enamel. Therefore, any enamel damage leads to staining and weak teeth.
Also, trauma can also stain adult teeth in a sports injury or any other impact causing the blood circulation to reduce to the tooth or even the nerve to die.
You can treat teeth staining using natural remedies or seek your dentist’s advice on extreme cases. Still, the best way to avoid discoloration is to prevent it from happening. Take heed of the major causes and avoid them. Your kid deserves a white, white smile at all times.
