When the first teeth start to appear in the baby we usually see these tiny white pieces. But as time passes and the child has all the teeth we can observe some alterations in color. They don't drink coffee, they don't smoke, but "milk" teeth aren't that white. Let's see the types of stains on children's teeth.
The first thing to distinguish is that teeth that are not white do not have to be stained. Each child, like each person, has its own particular target in very different shades ("ivory" color). Another issue is the spots that appear on those teeth, have the hue they have.
In front of stained teeth, we must ask ourselves the reason and consult the specialist. Here are some guidelines that can indicate what are the stains on children's teeth due to And what are the solutions?
Types of stains on children's teeth
A dark gray or blackish stain can come from a blood spill in the pulp of the tooth, and no treatment will eliminate it. It can occur after trauma to the area, or if a tooth is broken.
A grayish-brown stain may also occur after a stroke or breakage, when "the tooth dies", a process known as "pulp necrosis or gangrene" (it can also be caused by other causes, but trauma is the main one). The inflammation of the pulp tissue inside the tooth prevents the blood supply from being viable, so that the tissue begins to degrade and undergoes degeneration or necrosis. The tooth becomes insensitive to cold or heat, but extremely painful to the touch, since there is an outflow of pus and bacteria to the periapice.
A yellowish-green spot It can be caused by a culture of bacteria, if the child does not brush his teeth properly. The stain can be removed by rubbing it with an abrasive, but it tends to reappear. We must improve the technique of brushing and insist on specially stained areas.
The orange spot is usually produced by a deposit of bacteria that can be removed with the toothbrush. It usually accumulates in the base of the tooth, next to the gums, or in the inner part of the dental pieces, since it is in those places that brushing comes less effectively if it is not done carefully.
A black spot may have been caused by iron-based tonic medications, medications that should have been administered with a glass tube, to avoid contact with the teeth. That stain will not be removed by rubbing or scraping, but within a year it will gradually disappear.
Tetracycline pigmentations: The teeth are susceptible to staining due to this antibiotic from six months of gestation (intrauterine life) to 12 years of life. Recall that the baby's teeth begin to form in the mother's womb, so that the pregnant woman has to avoid this medicine (in addition to including in her diet adequate amounts of calcium, phosphorus, vitamin C and vitamin D for proper dental development) . Temporary or permanent teeth can be stained to children. At the beginning this pigmentation is yellow, but with the light it takes on a brown color.
Fluorosis stain, due to excessive and prolonged intake of fluoride. As we know, it is best for young children to use a toothpaste without fluoride. These spots may appear with a mottled, white or colored appearance, because there may be loss of enamel, and when the dentin is exposed, staining of the tooth with substances that are deposited on it is facilitated.
White spots by caries. Decayed teeth are damaged by acids formed in the mouth. A decay arises because the acid gradually dissolves the enamel, which is no longer recovered, and then the dentin, located beneath the enamel, is destroyed and no longer forms. Caries in its early stages looks like a white spot (known as white caries or milk caries), due to the demineralization of the enamel. It has to be removed immediately so you don't continue with your progress.
Brown and black spots due to decay, is the next step in the evolution of decay, when bacteria have become owners of that damaged part. A caries that extends can soften the rest of the tooth. Therefore, you should not miss any stains of this type and go to the pediatric dentist to carry out the appropriate treatment.
As we have already pointed out, the solutions to the different types of spots, if there are any, vary in each of them. From a good brushing to the filling, or an adequate prevention, what matters is to detect them in time and not allow the oral health of the child to deteriorate.
To avoid stains on children's teeth, nothing better than to encourage them to brush their teeth, do it regularly and with a good technique. Before stained teeth, consult the pediatrician or ontopediatrician to tell us how to act.
