Tooth enamel, or the outside, hard part of your child’s teeth, is one of the most important parts of the tooth. Enamel protects the soft inside of the tooth, which is especially vital in children who might not understand how to protect their teeth quite yet. Sometimes, enamel can wear down and begin to expose the sensitive parts of the tooth. Other times, your child’s teeth may appear discolored, with some yellow spots on the enamel. These conditions, which can happen on baby teeth, are fairly common and aren’t generally a cause for alarm.
Many children love sugar and snacks. That’s why many of them end up getting cavities. One consequence of eating too much sugar and acidic food is enamel loss. Your child’s enamel may wear down if he or she is drinking too much juice and consuming sugary food or beverages like soda. Try to counteract this process by having them drink acidic juices through a straw so it won’t hit the teeth. In addition, monitor your child’s snacking. The mouth needs time between meals to regain its saliva content to counterbalance the acid in the mouth. Another option is to have your child brush his or her teeth after every meal.
Fluorosis is a condition in which children have ingested too much fluoride, either through accidentally eating toothpaste or drinking fluoride-rich water. The teeth can appear discolored or have pits in them, but most children have minor symptoms that aren’t concerning. Just make sure your child isn’t ingesting more toothpaste than he or she needs.
Enamel hypoplasia is a condition in which a child’s tooth appears discolored in spots. This means your child could have yellow spots or white spots on his or her teeth, caused by some kind of “systemic disturbance,” like a recent illness. Hypoplasia is generally not a cause for concern and should only be observed. In more severe cases, dentists may need to work on the teeth and cap them to correct the problem. Maintaining good oral hygiene is the best way to keep enamel hypoplasia at bay.
You always want to start your children off right with proper oral care, and taking care of their tooth enamel is just one part of that. Instill proper oral hygiene habits in your children right when they begin brushing teeth — that will prevent most dental problems and keep everyone smiling.