Page 92 - South Mississippi Living - April, 2022

TOOTH
DISCOLORATION
IN CHILDREN
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
story by Dr. Karen Crews and courtesy of Beach View Family Dental
A common dental concern of parents is when
their child’s tooth or teeth lose their natural white
hue, turning creamy ivory, yellow, brown, or gray. Change in tooth color can be alarming, however, parents should know that not all tooth color changes indicate a problem. Understanding what causes tooth discoloration in children’s teeth can ease the worry and help parents stay informed about the various reasons for a child’s tooth or teeth to change color.
A color change can be either intrinsic (color deposited within inner layers of a tooth) or extrinsic (color on the tooth surface). There are several conditions that can cause the discoloration of the teeth. Listed below are the possible causes of tooth discoloration, its treatment, and effective prevention.
1. Not brushing or flossing regularly might stain teeth and cause tooth discoloration.
2. Traumatic injury may cause discoloration of the teeth due to bleeding or due to exposure of dental tissue. Dental injuries may cause the teeth to become dark gray, yellow, or pink based on the injury.
3. Foods with natural color may stain the teeth temporarily. Such foods include candies, tomatoes, soy sauce, berries, beets, chocolate, and pickles.
4. Some antibiotics can cause permanent discoloration of a child’s teeth. For instance, the antibiotic tetracycline can cause tooth discoloration when taken by children below the age of eight years.
5. Excessive exposure to fluoride through toothpaste or drinking water with high fluoride content may cause discoloration of the teeth. Fluoride can result in brown spots on the enamel, a condition called dental fluorosis.
6. Defects in the formation of enamel, which is the outermost layer of a tooth, can cause intrinsic staining of the teeth. An example of such a defect is enamel hypoplasia, which causes tooth discoloration.
7. Genetics and hereditary defects in dentin formation or enamel could be responsible for intrinsic tooth discoloration. This means that the child will naturally develop yellow, yellow-brown, or blue-brown teeth, depending on the genetic defect.
8. There are many miscellaneous reasons for discoloration. For instance, children with asthma,
who use inhalers regularly, may have discolored teeth. Frequent dental fillings may also cause the teeth to become discolored.
Talk with your dentist if you have concerns regarding your
child’s tooth or teeth. Beach View Family Dental conducts
a comprehensive exam on all
of our patients to ensure that
all medical, dental, and oral issues are documented and communicated to a child’s caregiver.,This allows for parents to understand how to help their children have a beautiful smile!
92 | April 2022
Beach View Family Dental
9072 Lorraine Rd, Gulfport | 228.896.1840 | www.beachviewfamilydental.com