Are you concerned that your child's teeth look yellow or discoloured, and wondering whether teeth whitening could help address the issue? Today we explain why our Surrey dentists advise against teeth whitening for children and young teens.
It's not unusual for parents to be concerned that their child's teeth appear yellowish or discoloured. This apparent discolouration can lead parents to wonder whether teeth whitening could help to brighten their child's teeth. At ProActive Dental Studio our goal is to help each of our young patients to achieve a bright and healthy smile, but teeth whitening is not something we recommend for children or young teens.
Adult Teeth are Naturally Darker
While parents may be concerned that their child's new adult teeth are not as white as the primary teeth were, that difference in colour is actually natural and normal. Within each tooth there is a layer of a yellowish substance called dentin, just under the enamel. Primary teeth have considerably less dentin than in adult teeth.
This higher amount of dentin within the adult teeth is what causes them to appear darker or more yellow than they primary teeth. The difference in colour is most noticeable when a child's remaining baby teeth are compared to the newly erupted adult teeth. Rest assured that the darker colour of the adult teeth is normal and will be much less noticeable once the child's remaining baby teeth have fallen out.
Teeth Whitening for Children May Not Be Safe
Whitening treatments have been designed for, and tested on adults, and can be an effective way for adults to achieve a brighter smile. That said, when it comes to the effects of whitening solution on children's dental health, there just isn't enough scientific data available for us to make an informed decision about whether whitening is safe for young smiles. That's why our Surrey dentists will only recommend teeth whitening to adults and older teens looking to brighten their smiles.