Among the FAQs our clients have for us is if it’s safe for children to have teeth whitening, and the short answer is no, it’s not advisable for kids under 14 years of age.
Teeth whitening treatments may cause pain and discomfort in kids teeth, especially for children longer than they would for adults. It may also result in irreversible long term effects like weaker enamel, tooth sensitivity, and damaged gum tissue that kids will bring into adulthood.
Because of this, the only way to whiten your child’s teeth is to approach it naturally, and that is to prevent teeth discolouration, to begin with.
If you want to maintain your kid’s pearly white smile with natural teeth whitening, here are 6 simple tips from SmileBar Australia that you can help your kid practice regularly.
6 Tips to Prevent Teeth Discoloration in Kids
- Limit Sugary Drinks
- Drink More Water
- Brush and Floss Regularly
- Prevent Cavities
- Regularly Visit the Dentist
- Model Good Dental Hygiene
While your child is still unable to have a professional teeth whitening treatment done, these 6 basic tips will help them keep maintain good oral health and a white bright smile.
Although these steps help them keep the whiteness of their teeth, it’s important to note that your kid’s natural teeth colour can also factor in the process.
And before we start, you must remember that you should NOT compare your kid’s teeth to that of magazine models or social media influencers because the images they share are oftentimes edited and are unrealistic.
Tip 1: Limit Sugary Drinks
Encourage your child to drink less juice, soda, and other sugary drinks. Instead, opt for natural fruit juices instead of processed ones because canned or bottled juices are usually loaded with sugar that is actually very acidic and can easily stick to the teeth.
Drinking sugary drinks on a regular basis significantly contributes to tooth decay, tooth erosion, and tooth staining. Soda, more especially, contains phosphoric acid and chromogens that stains the teeth. The phosphoric acid erodes the tooth enamel and the chromogens leave a yellow and dull tooth appearance.
So make juice and other sugary drinks an occasional treat and instruct your kids to gargle or brush right after.
Tip #2: Drink More Water
Drinking water will help wash away the sugar from various foods and drinks that accumulated in your kid’s teeth. If you have drinkable or potable tap water, it’s a much better option since it contains fluoride which helps in making your child’s enamel and teeth become stronger.
Moreover, fluoride also helps in fighting cavities and preventing tooth decay.
Aside from helping in maintaining your kid’s bright smile, drinking water throughout the day also keeps them hydrated.
Tip #3: Brush and Floss Regularly
Needless to say, brushing and flossing are both very important routines in keeping good dental hygiene. And training your child early to brush and floss at least twice a day will set the tone for good dental hygiene habits as they grow old.
Brushing and flossing keep the cavities away, and it’s more effective than drinking water in washing away the sugar that can settle between the teeth and damage the enamel.
Although teeth whitening toothpaste has become a norm today, it’s still best to consult with your dentist about whether it’s safe for your child to use it. There are safer products that are 6% Hydrogen Peroxide, but even if they’re all-natural, there still may be possible adverse effects that you might not be aware of.
Tip #4: Prevent Cavities
An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure, and so if you don’t want your kids with bad teeth to grow into their teenage years with cavities, it’s better to act on it now.
It is because cavities can pass from baby teeth to adult teeth. There’s a common misconception that baby teeth do not matter because they fall out later, but infections or cavities left untreated in baby teeth can spread to adult teeth beneath them.
Bacteria growth will continue to progress deeper into and through the root canals, this may create an acidic environment around the permanent tooth that will soon lead to cavities as they erupt.
Tip #5: Regularly Visit the Dentist
A dental check-up at least twice a year is a must. There are also dentist-supervised child teeth whitening services, but at SmileBar we do not offer teeth whitening services for all children under 14 years old of age, as well as pregnant or lactating mothers.
Dentists offer the best teeth whitening that is more secure because an experienced dentist has the right products, equipment, knowledge, skills, and patience to ensure your child’s teeth are well taken care of.
Tip #6: Model Good Dental Hygiene
If you want your kids to stick to their natural teeth whitening routine, you, as a parent, should set the example. Brushing or flossing your teeth together with your children will show them firsthand how to brush their teeth properly and will instil the importance of good oral hygiene in their early years that they will eventually carry later in life. Another cause of teeth discolouration is not getting enough sleep. When we don’t get enough sleep, our bodies produce more stress hormones which can lead to inflammation and tooth decay. Make sure your child is getting enough rest every night to help keep their teeth healthy and white. Thankfully, there are some things you can do to help your child get more sleep. One of those things is making sure they have the right baby sleepwear.
Comfortable baby sleepwear is important because it can help your child feel relaxed and secure. When children are comfortable, they’re more likely to fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night.
