Most if not all of the black stains on kid’s teeth do not occur overnight; they first appears as brown or gray spots which over time turns black. These stains can be caused by either internal factors that starts on from the inside of the teeth such as tooth decay or external factors that begins from the outside of the teeth such as food/drinks stains.
And here are the most suggested causes of black stains on kids teeth by professionals, researches and parents.
What Causes Black Stains On Kid’s Teeth
- Tartar buildup
- Tooth decay or cavities
- Kind of food and drinks they eat /drink
- Dental restoration
- Tobacco
- Excessive fluoride
- Certain medications
Tartar Buildup
Poor oral hygiene like not brushing or flossing teeth properly leads to formation of plaque that if not removed, harden into tartar also called calculus that appear as black spots and stains on teeth. (https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/tartar-dental-calculus-overview#1). When tartar buildup it cause discoloration and makes it hard to remove new plaque. It also start attacking and damaging the tooth outer layer which makes it easy for bacteria to penetrate inside the tooth causing tooth decay, cavities and gum disease.
Tooth Decay or cavities
Frequent exposure to plaque and tartar for a long period of time cause damage to the outer teeth surface that develop into tiny holes also called cavities. When the tooth decayed due to frequent exposure to plaque and tartar, it forms a white, brown or black spot to occur inside the tooth (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cavities/symptoms-causes/syc-20352892) a sign of serious dental health. Booking an appointment to see your child dentist is the best way to get this sorted out before infection spread out to other nearby teeth.)
You can remove kids tartar before they build up with one of our best kids electric toothbrush .
Kind of Food and Drinks They Eat /Drink
Frequent eating or drinking of dark food/ drinks such as chocolate, berries, coffee, black tea, red wines, cola, tomato sauce can also cause black stains on children teeth. It is advised that you ask the children to drink plain water immediately after eating or drinking these kinds of foods to avoid stains formation.
Dental Restoration
Fillings and crowns that contain amalgam, particularly silver sulfide, can cause teeth to appear black in color (https://www.healthline.com/health/black-teeth#causes). This means that incase you see your child has black stains on their teeth while they keep proper dental hygiene but has filling that contain silver amalgam then this can be the cause and nothing to worry about.
Tobacco
In case your kid has a habit of chewing tobacco when it gets mixed with saliva it forms dark brown liquid which is awfully staining. When this liquid left to have contact with the teeth for long time it cause black stains on tooth edges or near the gum line (https://www.smilebrilliant.com/articles/tobacco-stains-on-teeth).
Excessive Fluoride
Consuming too much fluoride while the teeth are being formed can lead to fluorosis. This condition causes white or brown discoloration or spots on the enamel, or tooth surface. The spots and stains left by fluorosis are permanent. They may darken over time (https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/basics/fluoride/fluorosis)
Certain Medications
Taking certain medications, such as liquid iron supplements can cause teeth stains (https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321777.php). If your child’s teeth have dark stains, they could be caused by iron, such as that in a vitamin (http://www.ctkidsdentist.com/blog/causes-stains-childs-teeth/)
How to Treat Black Stains on Kid’s Teeth
The only best way to treat black teeth on a child is to take them to the dentist who will examine them and offer right treatment.
The procedure can involve either using special dentist tools to remove the tartar or take portion of the decayed teeth out and do the fillings or even remove the whole teeth if the tooth is severely damaged.
Otherwise, keeping proper dental hygiene and training the child the importance of brushing twice a day, flossing and using mouth wash can help prevent the occurrence of most of the black stains on kid’s teeth.
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Dr. Tom Bell holds a doctorate in Medical Anthropology and is passionate about oral health. He is the creator of dentalrave and has dedicated over a decade to researching and promoting oral health. His goal is to offer trustworthy and free expert guidance on a diverse range of dental products, tips, methods, and topics, with the aim of making it easily accessible to everyone. It is hoped that this blog will assist you in identifying the appropriate methods and oral care products to enhance and maintain your dental health.