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Oct 19, 2024

7 Causes Of Tooth Discoloration In Babies & Ways To Treat It

Home • Baby • Safety Stains may occur for many reasons; cleaning and polishing teeth may eliminate extrinsic ones. Dr. Shailesh Shenoy has a post-graduate degree in Paediatric and Preventive Dentistry

Home • Baby • Safety

Stains may occur for many reasons; cleaning and polishing teeth may eliminate extrinsic ones.

Dr. Shailesh Shenoy has a post-graduate degree in Paediatric and Preventive Dentistry (MDS) from Yenepoya Dental College (2011). He is an associate of the Yenepoya Dental College and runs his own Pediatric and Multi-Specialty Dental Clinic in Mangalore, with eight years of experience. Read full bio of Dr. Shailesh Shenoy

Dr. Ritika Shah is a certified lactation counsellor (CLC) from iNational Health Care Academy, Singapore and a dental surgeon with more than seven years of clinical experience across various cities in India. She did her graduation in Dentistry from KM Shah Dental College. Read full bio of Dr. Ritika Shah

Rohit Garoo is a writer-turned-editor with over 9 years of experience in content writing, editing, and content marketing. He did his bachelors in Science at St. Xavier's College, Hyderabad, and masters in Business Administration at Osmania University. Read full bio of Rohit Garoo

Shinta is a biotechnologist who is highly intrigued by science and technology. She holds a master's degree in Biotechnology from Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences and a PG Diploma in cellular and molecular diagnostics from Manipal University. Read full bio of Shinta Liz Sunny

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Tooth discoloration in babies can be a common concern for parents, often signaling underlying health issues or dietary habits that require attention. However, it is a common problem and can be cured if identified early. The teeth may become off-white, gray, yellow, or brown for various reasons. For example, oral hygiene, certain medications, or physical conditions can cause teeth discoloration, and resolving the underlying causes may revert the color changes in some babies. It’s essential to consult a pediatric dentist to understand the reasons behind these changes, as some discolorations may indicate more serious conditions that need to be addressed promptly.

Read on to learn more about the causes, prevention, and treatment of teeth discoloration in babies and toddlers.

The reasons might be congenital, medical, or lifestyle-induced. The following are some of the possible reasons for stained or discolored teeth in a child.

Image: IStock

The stains can be broadly categorized into two types:

Image: IStock

Based on the relevant evidence, it is said that tooth discoloration can be found in nine different color spectrums: black, brown, blue, green, grey, orange, pink, red, and yellow.

Each color might represent a different cause (10).

Several predisposing factors could cause discoloration of the teeth. Each stain color could be a result of individual factors or conditions.

The over-the-counter teeth whitening or bleaching agents are not suitable for babies and toddlers. The decision to create a treatment plan should be left to the dentist, who can use a combination of treatment methods (13).

Image: Shutterstock

Removal of stains and discoloration should only be done by a dentist.

Discoloration of teeth in babies and toddlers can be avoided by following some good practices. Try and include these changes in your baby and toddler’s daily routine (14) (15).

Image: IStock

1. Can a discolored tooth heal completely?

The treatment of a discolored tooth depends on the underlying cause. If the discoloration is due to poor oral hygiene or extrinsic stains, it can be removed easily by brushing, cleaning, or polishing. However, if caused by other factors such as cavities and fluorosis, the discoloration cannot be cured (16).

2. How can I differentiate between a tooth discoloration and a cavity in my baby?

A cavity is brown to dark black in color and may result in an underlying hole in the tooth. Symptoms such as sensitivity, pain, or food lodgement may accompany. A stained tooth is structurally intact, and there are no associated discomforts (17).

3. Can iron deficiency cause teeth discoloration?

Iron deficiency isn’t a known cause of teeth discoloration. However, studies suggest that extrinsic black stains on teeth may indicate iron deficiency anemia or excess iron accumulation (18).

4. Can formula stain baby teeth?

Some research studies indicate that infants may have extrinsic staining of the teeth due to excess dietary iron consumption from formulas and food sources fortified with iron (19).

5. What vitamin deficiency causes brown teeth?

Brown teeth aren’t usually a common symptom of vitamin deficiency. However, a group study found that vitamin D deficiency in childhood may contribute to the development of dental caries, which may cause brown to yellow teeth (20).

Teeth discoloration may be seen in nine various color spectrums, including black, brown, blue, green, grey, orange, pink, red, and yellow, but it isn’t a cause for concern. So, if you see discoloration of teeth in babies and toddlers, the cause might be congenital, medical, or lifestyle-related, like improper brushing. Monitoring your baby’s or toddler’s mouth cavity regularly will keep you informed of any major or little changes. It will also help with early detection so that your child’s dentist can correct the discoloration. So, clean your baby’s teeth twice a day and avoid giving your infant sugary juices and sodas to prevent tooth discoloration.

While regular brushing and the brushing technique play a significant role in oral hygiene maintenance, choosing the right toothbrush and paste is half the job done. So go through this infographic to learn about the points to keep in mind while buying them to get the best results for your toddler’s teeth.

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

White spots on baby teeth can be caused by poor oral hygiene, excessive fluoride, or even genetics. Watch this video where an expert discusses the diagnosis and treatment of the spots.

1. Bussell RM and Deery C, Case report: Blue chromogenic dental staining in child with West syndrome.; European Archives of Paediatric Dentistry: Official Journal Of the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry. 2. Recommendations for the use of pacifiers; Paediatrics Child Health. 3. Vijayasree Vennila et al.; Tetracycline-Induced Discoloration of Deciduous Teeth: Case Series; Journal of International Oral Health International Society of Preventive and Community Dentistry. 4. Sharat Chandra Pani et al,; Extrinsic tooth staining potentia5 of high dose and sustained release iron syrups on primary teeth; BMC Oral Health. 5. Tooth discoloration in patients with neonatal diabetes after transfer onto glibenclamide: a previously unreported side effect; American Diabetes Association. 6. Luca Casula et al., Does post-traumatic transient discoloration indicate a good prognosis? Case report with 2 years of follow-up; International Journal of Applied Dental Sciences. 7. Amelogenesis imperfecta; U.S. National Library Of Medicine. 8. What causes discolored teeth and is there any way to cure or prevent staining?; TuftsNow. 9. Gabriel S. Barberio, Green Teeth Related to Bilirubin Levels; Acta Stomatologica Croatica 10. Colors in tooth discoloration: A new classification and literature review; Research Gate. 11. Paredes Gallardo and Paredes Cencillo C., Black stain: a common problem in pediatrics; Anales De Pediatría ( Barcelona, Spain, 2003) 12. Ene Indermitte et al., Exposure to High Fluoride Drinking Water and Risk of Dental Fluorosis in Estonia; International Journal Of Environmental Research And Public Health. 13. Faiez N. Hattab et al., Dental Discoloration: An Overview; Journal of Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry. 14. O Olatosi and EO Sote, Association Of Early Childhood Caries With Breastfeeding And Bottle Feeding In Southwestern Nigerian Children Of Preschool Age; Journal of West African College of Surgeons. 15. Vaishnavi Bhaskar et al., The importance of preventive dental visits from a young age: a systematic review and current perspectives; Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dentistry. 16. Discolored baby teeth: A cause for concern?; Beacon Health System. 17. Tooth Decay (Caries or Cavities) in Children; Johns Hopkins Medicine 18. Ilir Mesonjesi; Are extrinsic black stains of teeth iron-saturated bovine lactoferrin and a sign of iron deficient anemia or iron overload?; (2012); Medical Hypotheses. 19. Kim G. Adcock et al., (2008); Extrinsic Iron Staining in Infant Teeth from Iron-Fortified Formula and Rice Cereal; Journal of Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 20. Anchal Chhonka et al., (2018); Comparison of Vitamin D Level of Children with Severe Early Childhood Caries and Children with No Caries; International Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry.

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