Why Are My Two-Year-Old’s Teeth Yellow?

The toddler years are full of new experiences for both children and parents alike. However, you also might start to notice some things that you wouldn’t expect. Examine those beautiful pictures from last week’s family trip. Does your child have a less-than-white smile? How could someone so young, who is helped to brush their teeth daily, already have a yellowish cast to their pearly whites?

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Why Are My Two-Year-Old’s Teeth Yellow?

There are many scenarios and causes for yellow teeth in children:

Yellow Discoloration

Sometimes it seems that the only problem is a strange yellow cast to your child’s dental enamel. There are a few reasons that this could happen, even with great toothbrush skills.

• Food and drinks: Just like adults, children’s teeth are impacted by their diet. Lots of beverages and foods have adverse color reactions with teeth, causing staining. 
• Nutrient and vitamin supplements: Many vitamin supplements can cause teeth to be stained. Problematic supplements are iron and other metallic salts. 
• Poor brushing habits: The biggest culprit of yellow teeth is poor brushing habits. Even if you are helping your toddler brush his teeth twice a day, you might not be brushing effectively.
• Antibiotics: Some antibiotics, like tetracycline, can contribute to green, yellow, or brownish discoloration in your child’s teeth. These can also affect your child’s teeth if taken during pregnancy.
• Swallowing fluoride toothpaste: Fluoride is very safe and good for teeth, but ingesting too much can cause fluorosis, a condition that causes spots on teeth. Dentists recommend that small children use smear of toothpaste, or the size of a grain of rice, toothpaste until they learn not to swallow.
• Cavities: The first signs of cavities in baby teeth are white spots along the gums. These can quickly turn to a yellow, black, or brown discoloration. If your child’s yellow discoloration does not brush away he or she should be evaluated by a pediatric dentist.

Baby Teeth Coming in Yellow

Sometimes infants have yellow teeth before improper tooth brushing can even be a factor. If your baby’s teeth look yellow as they are teething you might look into one reason.

• Congenital disorders: These can often cause teeth to erupt from a baby’s gums with an already slightly yellow hue. If you notice this, be sure to talk to your pediatrician about it at their next appointment. They will be able to recommend a pediatric dentist.
• Weak enamel: Your child might have weak enamel, which may make their teeth appear to be yellow. If this is the case your dentist may recommend further evaluation.
• Injury: If your child received an injury to a tooth while it was below the gum line, it may appear darker than others. If this occurs you should consult with your child’s pediatric dentist.

Related: Discoloration of Teeth in Children: 4 Serious Causes for Concern

Yellow Teeth Near the Gums

If you notice that your child’s teeth are mostly white with a tiny bit of yellow close to the gum line, know that you can remedy this fairly quickly.

• Monitor your child’s brushing habits: Yellowness at the gum line is often an indication that plaque buildup is occurring due to ineffective brushing. If it persists after improved oral hygiene consult your child’s pediatric dentist.
• Help your child floss: Flossing will help to reduce the amount of plaque and buildup between your child’s teeth.
• Model for your child proper brushing practices: If you aren’t sure how to do this, a dental hygienist or dentist can help you. 

How to Fix Child’s Yellow Teeth

There are many reasons why a child might have yellow teeth, and not all of them are related to ineffective or infrequent brushing. However, proper dental hygiene can go a long way in improving the whiteness of your child’s teeth. Make sure you use a recommended toothpaste and a soft bristled brush to reach and polish all the teeth. Show your child that flossing is also an important component in a daily dental routine.

Related: How Important Are Teeth Cleanings For Kids?

If you find that a consistent dental hygiene routine isn’t helping to improve your child’s smile, it’s a great idea to get his or her dentist involved. A caring dentist will be able to help you figure out what exactly is causing the discoloration of your child’s teeth. It’s times like this that an expert opinion is very valuable.