Our Surrey and Langley dentists know that parents sometimes worry about the colour of their children's teeth. Many concerned parents wonder if teeth whitening is the answer to brightening their child's smile, but our dentists advise against teeth whitening for children and young teens. Here's why...
We understand parents want their kids to have a bright and healthy smiles. For that reason it's not unusual for parents to be concerned if their child's teeth appear yellow or discoloured. The belief that their child's teeth aren't as white as they should be can lead parents to wonder whether teeth whitening could help to address the issue. The teams at Dr. Sophie's Surrey and Langley dental offices strongly advise against teeth whitening for children and young teens for two good reasons.
Adult Teeth Are Naturally Darker Than Primary Teeth
Within each tooth, just beneath the enamel there is a layer of a yellowish substance called dentin. Primary teeth (baby teeth) naturally have less dentin in them, giving them a much whiter appearance than the newly erupted adult teeth. The darker or more yellow appearance of the adult teeth is typically most noticeable when a child's remaining primary teeth are compared to the new adult teeth. Rest assured that this colour variation is normal, and will be much less noticeable as soon as your child's remaining baby teeth have fallen out and been replaced by permanent adult teeth.
The Whitening Solution May Not Be Safe for Developing Smiles
Keeping your child's smile healthy is always our primary concern. While whitening solutions are considered a safe way for adults to brighten their smile, when it comes to the developing smiles of children and teens, there just isn't enough scientific data available for us to make an informed decision about whether these solutions are safe. That's why our dentists will only recommend teeth whitening to adults or older teens looking for a whiter smile.