My Child’s Teeth Have Become Discolored. Is It Suitable to Whiten Them?

When a child’s teeth become discolored, it can be a definite source of embarrassment. This is even more true for children in their more awkward adolescent years. A white and bright smile can be a major boost to self-esteem, but should you get your child’s teeth whitened? Dr. Adnan Saleem and the team at Hebron Smiles and Smilebliss Orthodontics in Carrollton, Texas, are here to help you address your child’s oral health, including if they are ready for a teeth whitening treatment.

Causes of Discoloration

When talking about children, several reasons (both internal and external) could cause their teeth’s discoloration.

External causes can include:

• Poor at-home oral hygiene
  
• Staining from food or drink
  
• The ingestion of medications containing iron, possibly from a vitamin supplement
  
• Spots on the teeth where braces have been removed
  
• Infection or trauma that occurred on a baby tooth, which leads to some discoloration on a permanent tooth
  

Internal causes can include:

• Trauma or nerve damage to a tooth
  
• Decay
  
• If mom took tetracycline during either pregnancy or when breastfeeding
  
• Excessive fluoride intake, possibly from concentrated infant formula
  
• Various medical conditions which could have interfered with tooth development
  

Should You Have Your Child’s Teeth Whitened?

It is recommended that young children who have not yet hit adolescence or who still have baby teeth avoid teeth whitening treatments. Once most of a child’s permanent teeth have come in, teeth whitening may be recommended, but it is important that you discuss this with your dentist. If teeth whitening is recommended, you can rest easy knowing that treatments offered by Dr. Adnan Saleem are both effective and proven to be safe. Dr. Adnan offers both chairside whitening treatments and Opalescence TresWhite, an at-home whitening kit proven to lift stains effectively. For home bleaching, you will be given customized whitening trays to which you will apply a whitening gel. These trays can be worn at your convenience, and within days, the results you want to see for you or your child will be a reality.

To learn more about whitening treatments offered by Dr. Adnan Saleem, please call Hebron Smiles and Smilebliss Orthodontics today at (972) 388-3320 for an appointment.

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