Having yellowed or discolored teeth can affect anyone’s self-esteem; especially a preteen or teenager. If your child is suffering from discolored teeth and are begging to get them either professionally whitened or they want to use an over-the-counter remedy, it’s important to ensure that you don’t cause any damage to their teeth in the process. Read on to learn more about some considerations you should make when your child wants to get their teeth whitened.
Surface Stains or Deep Stains?
There are two different types of stains that your child’s teeth may be experiencing. The first one is surface stains caused by things like food and beverages. And the second type of stain they could be suffering from is a deep stain, which is primarily caused by things such as prescription medication. If your child has surface stains, then a whitening treatment will work. Whereas if they are suffering from deep stains, then they may not be able to get their teeth whitened because the stain goes all the way through the tooth.
Are they getting other dental procedures?
If your child has misaligned teeth and needs braces, then you should wait until after their teeth are straightened before you let them get their teeth whitened. Because your child’s teeth are likely to become stained while wearing braces, it’s best to wait until after they are removed to even consider it.
How old is your child?
If you have a young child who is complaining about the color of their teeth, then it’s best to ignore this desire until they are older. As your child loses their all of their baby teeth and start to get their adult teeth, then you can start to consider letting them whiten their teeth.
To learn more about letting your child whiten their teeth and any health risks that they may suffer from, contact McDowell Dental Group today!
