Teeth Whitening for Children and Teens
Parents must decide for themselves if and when whitening a child's teeth is appropriate. First, it is important to know why the child's teeth are discolored. Top reasons for stained and discolored teeth in children and teens include:
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- Injury, trauma or infection
- Fluorisis (a result of over exposure to fluoride)
- Antibiotics such as tetracycline, derivative compounds of tetracycline and minocycline
- Loss of primary ("baby") teeth and subsequent incoming of permanent teeth
Don't forget to check out our At-a-Glance Comparison, a chart that provides you with a quick look at the answers to many of these questions.
If you notice your child's permanent teeth are a different color from his or her primary teeth, wait to consider whitening treatments until all permanent teeth have come in. This will prevent teeth from being two or more different shades of white, as primary and permanent teeth will react differently to whitening treatments.
If teeth discoloration is a result of injury, trauma or infection, we advise taking the child to a dentist as soon as possible. Delaying treatment of certain conditions can cause serious dental problems or can even affect the child's overall health.
If the cause of discoloration is fluorisis or antibiotic intake, you may want to consider whitening treatments if the child or teen seems to suffer a negative self-image as a result of the stains. Before beginning a teeth whitening treatment for your child or teen, however, you should consult a dentist.
