Black children's teeth: causes, treatment and prevention

The teeth of babies and children should be a whiter color than the teeth of adults. This is because the teeth in children contain more fluorine. However, not a few parents are faced with black teeth problems in children.

Actually, what are the factors that can cause children to have black teeth? Are there any steps for treatment and prevention so that black teeth can be whitened back to normal? Check out the full explanation below.

Recognizing the various causes of black teeth in children

Baby teeth are the collection of teeth that babies and children have from 6 months to 4 years of age. Twenty baby teeth will begin to fall out one by one and be replaced by permanent teeth as they grow older.

However, before entering that period, many children were faced with problems related to baby teeth, one of which was a child's teeth turning black.

Black teeth can reduce children's self-confidence, where this condition can be caused by various things such as the following.

1. Not maintaining good oral hygiene

Get your children into the habit of maintaining good dental hygiene, by teaching them to brush their teeth regularly twice a day in the morning and at night. If you are a baby, you can brush your little one's teeth using gauze or a damp cloth.

The reason is that if the mouth area is not clean, plaque formed from food debris can accumulate and eventually cause the teeth to turn black.

When a child's baby teeth fall out one by one, the color of the teeth will return to normal white. If you are in doubt, you should discuss this with the dentist who treats your child.

2. Consumption of sweet foods and drinks

Children generally really like to eat sweet foods and drinks, such as candy, cookies, chocolate, cereal, bread, ice cream, milk, and fruit juices. Without realizing it, these food debris can stick to the child's teeth.

Bacteria in the oral cavity will convert the sugar content in the leftovers into acidic substances. Over time, the accumulated acid can erode the enamel layer, causing cavities or dental caries in children.

3. The habit of breastfeeding using bottles

Some parents have the habit of letting their child bottle or feed sippy cup I fell asleep. In fact, this bad habit can cause tooth decay in babies and young children which is known as bottle caries or teeth.

Tooth teeth occur when the sugar content in milk sticks to the surface of a child's teeth. Sugar that sticks for a long time can trigger the development of bad bacteria in the mouth, one of which can cause cavities to rot.

4. Injury to the teeth and gums

Injury to the teeth and gums can also discolor your little one's teeth. For example, when they play and fall, causing bleeding gums. If the blood does not come out, the blood will clot in the gums and eventually affect the color of the gums and teeth.

Teeth can change color from blue to black. This condition generally goes away after some time. However, if you are worried about your little one's condition, you should immediately take it to the dentist.

5. Using certain drugs

There are several drugs that have the side effect of removing or reducing tooth enamel levels. Enamel is the outermost layer of tooth structure that is hard and serves to protect the deeper layers of the tooth.

Decreasing tooth enamel due to consumption of certain drugs will affect dental health, including its bright white color.

If your child is given certain drugs by a doctor, make sure that you are aware of all possible side effects. If there are problems with teeth and mouth, immediately consult and get your little one checked by a doctor.

6. Hereditary genetics

Another thing that most likely causes black children's teeth is genetic inheritance. This condition is rarely known, but it is not impossible.

Certain genes are known to make a person's teeth black, even though this person regularly maintains oral and dental health as recommended.

Generally, people who have this genetic will have bluish, grayish, to blackish teeth. This condition can occur in baby teeth and permanent teeth when the child is an adult.

To find out the exact cause of your child's black teeth, you should immediately consult a dentist to be sure.

How to treat black teeth problems in children?

Not only does it cause teeth to turn black, tooth decay can also cause pain and discomfort in their mouth. In addition, tooth decay can cause infections that affect the overall health of the child.

If this condition is not treated promptly, it can cause your baby teeth to fall out prematurely. AMerican Dental Association states that baby teeth that fall out sooner can cause permanent teeth to fall apart, making it difficult to clean.

To treat black teeth problems in children, you must immediately take your child to the dentist. The dentist will perform dental care according to the symptoms, age, and overall health condition of the child.

Quoted from Johns Hopkins MedicineMost cases of black teeth in children are treated through dental filling procedures. The doctor will first remove the black and damaged parts of the child's teeth.

Then the doctor will patch it with a material such as amalgam or resin so that the condition returns to normal. This process is usually only enough for one visit.

Meanwhile, in the case of minor children's tooth decay, doctors will recommend parents to limit their consumption of high-sugar foods and drinks in children.

In addition, the doctor will also recommend daily dental care, namely by brushing the child's teeth regularly twice a day with toothpaste containing fluoride.

What are the steps to prevent black teeth in children?

To prevent children's tooth decay such as black teeth, there are various preventive steps you can take, including:

• Take care of your teeth and mouth from an early age, that is, when baby teeth first appear at the age of 6 months. It is enough to brush the baby's teeth with gauze or a damp cloth after feeding.
• Teach children about the importance of taking care of oral and dental health from an early age, namely by brushing their teeth regularly with the right technique, flossing, and use mouthwash.
• Avoid using bottles or sippy cup to suckle before bed. The sugar content in formula milk can cause tooth decay in babies and children.
• Make sure your child gets nutritious food intake and avoid foods that are high in sugar, such as candy, cookies, biscuits, and so on.
• Check your child's teeth to the doctor since the first teeth appear and do it regularly every six months.