Can My Child or Teen Whiten Their Teeth?

Many parents first may notice that their child’s teeth appear to be more yellow in color once their adult teeth starting coming in. Primary teeth, or baby teeth are generally lighter or whiter in color compared to the adult tooth, so when an adult tooth is next to a baby tooth it may appear more vellow in color. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) does not recommend whitening a child’s teeth until they have all their permanent teeth and have no active decay. Most children will lose all of their primary teeth between the ages of 12 and 13 and then it takes another two years for the enamel to fully calcify so children really should not whiten their teeth until they are 14 or 15 years old.

There are a couple different products on the market that are sate for children to use to whiten their teeth while also avoiding bleaching. Whitening Toothpaste: this is a safer approach to removing surface stains. Try to find a whitening toothpaste specifically formulated for children rather than adults. An example of a children’s whitening toothpaste is SuperMouth toothpaste which is a nano-hydroxyapatite (what 97% of enamel is made of to naturally whiten teeth.) Baking Soda: this will help remove surface stains as well. Combine a little baking soda with water to create a paste. This should be used after the child has brushed their teeth with fluoridated toothpaste. Whitening Strips: these may be used only for children who have all their permanent teeth at around age 14 to 15. The whitening strips contain hydrogen peroxide which helps remove surface stains, but will also penetrate through the enamel into the underlying structure of dentin. Tooth sensitivity may result if these products are being used too frequently or incorrectly. An adult should supervise the adolescent to ensure proper use. If you or your child have any questions or concerns regarding tooth whitening please reach out to your dental professionals at Spring Lake Dental Group!