Black stain on kids teeth

Black staining of teeth due to Chromogenic (coloured) bacteria can be a source of poor self-esteem for patients, especially children. It looks like pigmented black lines along the gumline. This type of stain seems to be more prevalent in children. It is due to the presence of a form of bacterial plaque living in the child’s oral environment. Children that are prone to this usually outgrow it as their adult teeth erupt. The bacteria native to the oral environment does change over time.

The best and only way to get rid of this black staining is good oral hygiene. This requires both diligent home care and regular dental visits. Colonization of plaque bacteria can occur within 24 hours of brushing and within 72 hours this colonization irreversibly adheres to your tooth surface...Hence brushing in an interval of 12 hours can help in preventing this colonization. Consistent strict oral hygiene measures like brushing twice daily and flossing are the only way to prevent staining due to bacteria. Regular visits to your dentist can also keep a check on staining issues. These stains do polish off with dental prophylaxis, but they do come back…. so home care is the only way to keep it at a minimum until the next dental visit.

Other causes of tooth staining, aside from chromogenic bacterial staining, include habits like smoking, betel leaf chewing, use of mouth rinses like chlorhexidine, increased intake of beverages like tea and coffee, intake of iron supplements and swimming in chlorinated pools regularly. In children we can usually rule out coffee, tea and smoking ( hopefully!) thus chromogenic bacterial staining seems to be a diagnosis of elimination after medication.  Our hygienists at Innovation Drive Dental do a fabulous job at removing stain at your cleaning appointment. You will go home with pearly whites, but unfortunately, it will come back. So, we do recommend seeing these patients every 3-4 months.  If you notice this on your child’s teeth Visit our website at www.innovationdrivedental.com to request an appointment.