This is a common question from parents who have children with what we call “mixed dentition,” which simply refers to having both baby (primary) and permanent (secondary) teeth at the same time. This stage of development - when children are losing baby teeth and permanent teeth are erupting in their place - is a very busy time for a child’s mouth – and the Tooth Fairy, of course!
Both baby teeth and permanent teeth have enamel (the hard, outer coating of your teeth which is light in color) and dentin (the layer just under the enamel which is yellowish in color). Permanent teeth contain a more translucent layer of enamel and a thicker layer of dentin than baby teeth, which causes them to appear a bit darker. Once children complete the mixed dentition stage and all the permanent teeth are in place, the color will typically appear more uniform across all the teeth. It is important to remember that tooth color starts with the individual’s genetic makeup, therefore, tooth color varies from person to person. Let us use eye color as an example…a group of people may all have blue eyes, but not everyone in that group will have the same shade of blue.
Taking all of that into consideration, there are times, however, where discoloration may have other causes. Some examples:
TRAUMA: When teeth have suffered trauma (such as being broken in a fall or getting hit with an object), the nerve of those teeth can die and will usually darken and turn gray. In these cases, we do want to see your child as soon as possible.
POOR ORAL HYGIENE: Teeth that are not brushed and flossed regularly will build up plaque and tartar, which can make teeth appear more yellow than they are.
DECAY: Poor oral hygiene can lead to tooth decay, which can make a tooth appear discolored.
As always, please let us know if you have any concerns.
Questions? Please reach out to us by phone at (781) 942-2020, by e-mail at info@drkhull.com, or you may also use our Contact page.
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