At What Age Can a Child Begin Using Tooth Whitening Products?
Posted on 6/21/2021 by Tiny Teeth Pediatric Dentistry
Baby teeth tend to be whiter than adult teeth, so it is natural for your child's teeth to appear more yellow as he or she gets older. Discolored teeth are another item in a long list of things that can make children self-conscious about the way they look, especially for preteens and teens. If your child has been complaining about the shade of his or her teeth, you may be wondering if they are old enough to use tooth whitening products. Read on to learn more.
Whitening Toothpaste
Buying a toothpaste containing whitening ingredients is the most convenient and affordable way to help whiten your child's teeth. Most of these toothpastes are generally recognized by the ADA to be safe for children to use, but make sure to double-check the label for age guidelines. If you are unsure whether or not a specific type of toothpaste is safe for your child to use, give us a call.
Children and adults should only use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste to brush with. Be aware that some whitening toothpastes can make your child's teeth more sensitive to hot and cold foods and drinks. Also, whitening toothpastes only remove surface stains, so if your child has extensive discoloration, you should talk to us about alternative whitening options.
Whitening Strips and Other At-Home Products
Whitening strips, at-home bleaching kits, and other over-the-counter tooth whitening products are all very popular, but you should be cautious about letting your child use them. Children should not use any of these products until all of their permanent teeth have fully formed, as baby teeth are too sensitive for most of the bleaching agents found in whitening products. Plus, since baby teeth are not permanent, it is probably not worthwhile to whiten them anyway. Please ask us before using any at-home tooth whitening products on your child's teeth, and always follow the package instructions to guarantee safe application of the product.
Professional Whitening Services
Professional treatments are always the safest and most reliable way to whiten teeth, for both children and adults. We offer professional whitening services in our office, but again, we like to wait until after children have all their permanent teeth, usually around fourteen years of age. If you have questions about whitening your child's teeth, call us today.
Blog - Wichita, KS • Tiny Teeth Pediatric Dentistry At Tiny Teeth Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Healy created this informative blog to assist with educating the community about various topics of pediatric dentistry. Tiny Teeth Pediatric Dentistry, 3933 N. Maize Road, Suite 200 Wichita, KS 67101 - (316) 202-9629 - tinyteethwichita.com - 12/3/2024 - Page Terms:Pediatric Dentist Wichita KS -
Baby teeth tend to be whiter than adult teeth, so it is natural for your child's teeth to appear more yellow as he or she gets older. Discolored teeth are another item in a long list of things that can make children self-conscious about the way they look, especially for preteens and teens. If your child has been complaining about the shade of his or her teeth, you may be wondering if they are old enough to use tooth whitening products. Read on to learn more.