Why Do My Child's Teeth Look Black or Yellow? Common Causes of Stains

Kids' teeth change color for many reasons: black stain near the gums, iron, a fall, yellower permanent teeth, white spots. Plus why to skip home whitening.

When you spot a black dot or line on your child's teeth while brushing, it's natural to worry it's a cavity. The same goes for a tooth that turns gray, or a new permanent tooth that looks extra yellow. Teeth change color for many reasons, and most can be sorted out with a dental visit. Here are the common causes and what to do at home.

Common reasons teeth change color

It's hard to tell a cavity from a stain at home. Still, knowing the common causes helps you worry less and makes the dentist's explanation easier to follow.

• Black stain near the gums: Black dots or lines form in a row along the neck of the tooth near the gumline. It's linked to mouth bacteria and is harmless. It comes off with a professional cleaning, but it can come back. There are reports that kids with black stain tend to have fewer cavities. But whether the stain actually prevents cavities isn't known.
• Iron supplement stain: Metals such as those in iron supplements stain the tooth surface. Because it's on the outside, it's relatively easy to remove at the dentist.
• Discoloration after a fall: An injured baby tooth can turn gray, pink, or yellow. It may fade over weeks to months, and color change alone isn't a reason for root canal treatment. But it does need to be watched.
• Permanent teeth looking more yellow: Baby teeth and permanent teeth have different enamel (outer layer) thickness. So during the changeover, a new permanent tooth can look more yellow than the baby tooth next to it, even in the same mouth.
• White spots or streaks: This may be dental fluorosis, caused by swallowing too much fluoride while the permanent teeth are forming, up to about age 8. Most cases are mild.

Black stain used to be mistaken for a sign of poor brushing. Today it's seen as harmless, only a cosmetic concern. It's not your fault, so rest easy.

Don't scrape at home. Here's what to do

1. Don't scrape or scrub black spots. Scraping with a fingernail or tool can damage the tooth surface or gums. Have them cleaned at the dentist.
2. Have it taken care of at regular checkups. Black stain can come back, so have it checked at each visit and cleaned again if needed.
3. Give iron syrup into the cheek, a little at a time. Sit your child upright and use a syringe to put small amounts inside the cheek, giving them time to swallow. Don't squirt it toward the back of the throat. Afterward, offer water or brush the teeth.
4. If a tooth changes color after a fall, keep a record. The dentist will take photos and follow it over time. Noting dates and taking photos at home also makes it easier to compare changes.
5. Use only the right amount of fluoride toothpaste. That's a rice-grain smear under age 3, and a pea-sized amount from 3 to 6. Squeeze it out yourself, and have your child spit after brushing.

Whitening the whole mouth while baby teeth and permanent teeth are mixed can leave the colors mismatched once all the permanent teeth come in. If your child's tooth color bothers you, the first step is to find out the cause at the dentist.

Frequently asked questions

When to see a dentist

• The gum around a discolored tooth swells or a pimple-like opening appears
• Your child has pain in a discolored tooth or a fever (go right away)
• New black dots or brown stains appear on the teeth
• A tooth changed color after a fall
• You're worried because permanent teeth look especially yellow or have white spots or streaks

English ebook · Dentist Ingyoon An

A guide to the decisions behind dental care

Tooth Calendar follows dental care from pregnancy to eighteen in 78 chapters. Explore the reasons behind feeding, brushing, baby-tooth decay, sedation, and injury decisions—including what can be watched and when to seek help. Age-based contents and a topic index help you find the concern you have today.

Preview & buy on Google Play Books

The information in this article is for general educational purposes and does not replace professional dental care. Talk to a dentist about your child's condition.

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