The Right Age To Whiten Most dentists agree that teeth whitening should be done no earlier than age 14-16. Many pre-teens do not have all of their permanent teeth yet, so it's best not to undergo teeth whitening until all adult teeth are present, and there are no longer any baby teeth in your child's mouth.
Mix a teaspoon of baking soda with two teaspoons of water and brush your kid's teeth with it twice per week. Hydrogen peroxide: Hydrogen peroxide is a mild bleach that helps to whiten stained teeth. For efficiency, you can mix it with baking soda and brush your kid's teeth with it twice a day for a week.
Teeth whitening improves the appearance of your teeth and improves your smile. However, dentists recommend waiting until children are at least 14 years old before considering teeth whitening for kids.
Children can have their teeth whitened, but they must meet the following criteria: All the permanent teeth have already erupted. The enamel on the child's permanent teeth has already fully calcified. All orthodontic treatments have already been completed.
Good news: this is normal. Permanent teeth have more dentin (the layer of the tooth underneath the outer enamel), which has a more yellowish color. They also have very large nerve canals when they erupt and the enamel is more naturally transparent.
Plaque and staining can build up if a child doesn't brush and floss regularly, causing teeth to turn yellow. Brushing twice a day and flossing once a day can help children avoid yellow teeth.
If your child is between the ages of 6-13, their baby (primary) teeth will start to fall out, and their adult teeth will erupt. Often, their new adult teeth may have a yellowish color, especially compared to their remaining baby teeth.
If your child's enamel is thinner or weaker than normal, their teeth may look yellow. This is because enamel is whitish in color, while the layer of dentin underneath the enamel looks much more yellow.
Most dentists agree that teeth whitening should be done no earlier than age 14-16. Many pre-teens do not have all of their permanent teeth yet, so it's best not to undergo teeth whitening until all adult teeth are present, and there are no longer any baby teeth in your child's mouth.
At what age is it safe to whiten teeth? Your child needs to wait until the enamel on their permanent teeth has fully calcified BEFORE beginning any whitening treatment.
Tooth Development and Whitening Effects
Secondary teeth are still erupting and immature, while primary teeth are falling out. For these reasons and more, the Canadian Dental Association recommends that that no bleaching products should be used on children under 12 years old.
Most dentists agree that regular toothpaste with whitening ingredients are okay for children to use, but only in small (pea-sized) amounts and when they learn to brush properly, i.e. not too hard!
Plaque and Tartar Build-Up
When your child is young, their teeth are constantly growing and developing. They're not fully set in until they're around six years old. This means that there's still a lot of time for plaque to build up, which can result in dental cavities and tooth decay.
Some kids are born with thin enamel due to genetic factors. This is called “enamel hypoplasia.” This means the layer of white enamel is thinner. In turn, this exposes more of the yellowish dentin, making the teeth look more yellow.
This condition happens when baby teeth are exposed to too much fluoride through water, toothpaste, or fortified foods. Fluorosis can lead to white or brown spots on the teeth, making the surrounding enamel look yellow. Other supplements may also discolor teeth. Iron, for example, may cause teeth to turn gray or black.
Yellow or discolored teeth can be unattractive causing teeth to look prematurely aged, or dirty. Patients with discolored teeth may feel embarrassed of their smile and hide their smile in photos or while laughing. White, bright smiles can help patients feel more confident in professional and personal interactions.
A diet that contains too many acidic foods and drinks can wear down tooth enamel and cause teeth to appear dull, dark, gray, or yellow. Furthermore, a diet high in sugary foods and drinks can increase the risk of tooth decay, which can present itself as dark or brown patches.
What Can Be Done to Whiten Yellow Teeth? If you're looking for a radical change in the coloring of your teeth, you need professional-grade whitening to get the job done. Your cosmetic dentist can provide treatment that penetrates deep into the enamel and removes years of stains with a powerful bleaching agent.
As the healthy teeth age, the nerve shrinks and the tooth thickens from the inside, giving it a whiter appearance.
Myth #2: Yellow teeth are unhealthy.
Teeth that are not perfectly white can still be healthy. The teeth are considered unhealthy if their color is attributed to plaque buildup or staining. Having off-white teeth is often healthy.
Non-White or Yellow Teeth are Unhealthy
Teeth whitening treatments usually work by stripping or entering the outer enamel layer, which makes teeth weaker if done many times. So, more often than not, yellow teeth are actually stronger than pearly white ones–so long as they're cleaned regularly.
Thankfully, yellow teeth aren't forever. Not only can your teeth be whitened, but you can also adopt habits that keep them looking good. Use this blog to learn about why teeth become yellow, how you can fix them, and what you can do to prevent future discoloration.
While a yellow hue near the gum line can be an early sign of tooth decay, gum disease, and other dental problems—it is usually an indication of dental plaque or tartar. Dental plaque develops due to bacteria in the mouth combined with food byproducts and proteins.