When caring for you child’s oral health, you may notice new adult teeth growing with a more yellow appearance than the remaining baby teeth. If you have ever wondered what the cause of this is, or if you should be concerned, well, you’ve come to the right place!
Why are the Adult Teeth Growing in Yellow?
As some adult teeth start to erupt you may notice they are slightly more yellow compared to the remaining baby teeth. One reason for this is that adult teeth have more dentin (the layer of the tooth underneath the outer enamel), which has a naturally more yellowish colour. They also have much larger nerve canals when they are erupting and the enamel is more naturally transparent. These two things combined mean that the adult teeth may often look very yellow compared to baby teeth, which are a milky-white colour. This is all very normal, and over time those adult teeth will begin to calcify, which is something that naturally occurs as the teeth age more, this will make the teeth appear lighter in colour. As more baby teeth fall out and adult teeth grow in, the teeth will slowly all begin to match in colour, making the slightly yellowish colour stand out even less!
Can Genetics Play a Role?
Genetics can play a large role in determining the strength or your child’s enamel. Some children are born with weaker or thinner enamel. Enamel is what causes teeth to have a whitish color. The underlying dentin layer is more of a yellowish colour, so a thin layer of enamel can make your child’s teeth look more yellow than white. The way in which the white enamel (and the underlying yellow dentine) forms during development is mainly due to our genes. If you think that your child may have weak or thin enamel it would be a good idea to come visit one of our doctors at Lolo Pediatric Dentistry to ensure that you understand how to care for their teeth properly and mitigate their higher risk of tooth decay.
Good Oral Hygiene Can Improve the Colour of Teeth:
If you are not brushing your little ones’ teeth for 2 minutes twice a day plaque and tartar may start to build up, and this build up of plaque can become stained from foods and some drinks, creating an additional layer of yellow colour.
If you think that this may be the cause of yellow staining on your child’s teeth, we would recommend coming to have a complete oral examination and cleaning. At this appoinbtment, counselling will be given regarding proper oral health care, nutrition, and how to prevent tooth or gum disease.