Why do children's teeth turn yellow after a tooth change?

I often hear parents complain that their children's teeth are white when they have baby teeth, but why do their teeth turn yellow when they change? Is it because parents did something wrong before the teeth changed?

Is there a problem with yellowing teeth after tooth replacement?

Generally speaking, the color of a tooth is determined by the color of the enamel (the outer shell of the crown) and the color of the dentin (the inner body structure of the tooth). As enamel is usually white and translucent and dentin is yellowish, the final color of the tooth depends on the transparency of the enamel and the color of the dentin. If the dentin is the same color, the more transparent the enamel, the more of the dentin will come through and the more yellow the tooth will look; conversely, the whiter it will be. In most cases, therefore, a tooth's yellow or white color is a reflection of the transparency of its enamel.

The transparency of the enamel depends on the degree of calcification, i.e. the more calcified it is, the more transparent it is, and vice versa. This is why a yellow or white tooth can normally reflect the degree of enamel calcification. Sometimes, of course, a change in tooth color is caused by a change in the color of the dentin, such as in the case of tetracycline teeth.

Tooth replacement is the process of replacing milk teeth with permanent teeth. Although the permanent teeth and the milk teeth come from the same body, they differ slightly in appearance and texture due to their stage of development and the different physiological functions they perform.

Permanent teeth have a more difficult chewing task (more varied food and longer use) and their enamel has to be more calcified to match their function, so naturally, their enamel will be more transparent and their teeth more yellow in color. This is why the yellowing of teeth after the change of teeth, although not expected by many parents, is a matter of course.

Here are some things to look out for during the tooth replacement period

1 Tooth that won't be renewed

Although we usually refer to the period between the ages of 6 and 12 as the tooth replacement period, not all permanent teeth come in after the milk teeth have been replaced. There are 20 baby teeth and 28 to 32 permanent teeth. The 8 to 12 permanent teeth are the same as the milk teeth, but they will not be renewed for the first time.

The most representative permanent tooth is the famous sixth tooth, which erupts around the age of six, counting backward from the center line. It is one of the first permanent teeth to emerge and is therefore likely to be the longest-serving tooth; (2) it usually erupts quietly behind the baby teeth and is often mistaken for a baby tooth and not taken seriously; (3) it is not only very powerful in chewing but is also essential for the establishment of a normal occlusion relationship, making it a proper C-suite in the permanent dentition. For these two reasons, the prevention of tooth decay at the age of six should be given due attention.

2 Late permanent teeth and early decay of milk teeth

One of the most common problems during tooth replacement is the late arrival and early departure of teeth. Needless to say, the problem varies from person to person.

The reasons for late permanent teeth are more complex and there are usually three situations: firstly, the milk teeth do not fall out "on time" (known professionally as "milk tooth retention"), either because the permanent tooth germ is growing in an abnormal direction, is located far from the milk tooth root or is completely non-existent (congenital Secondly, if the baby tooth has been lost "on time", this often indicates the presence of a permanent tooth, but only because it has encountered some kind of obstacle and therefore requires only symptomatic treatment; thirdly, if the baby tooth has been lost prematurely, the permanent tooth has been lost. The permanent teeth are therefore deprived of the lead of the milk teeth and may be delayed in growing because of the difficulty in breaking through the gums. In either case, if the permanent teeth are late beyond a certain point, then it is best to go to the hospital for a check-up. After all, even if the permanent tooth germ is all present, the order of its emergence will be relevant to the future alignment of the teeth and needs to be treated with care.

The most common cause of early receding milk teeth is caries, so caries prevention is key to preventing such problems from occurring.

3 Strive to keep all baby teeth fighting to the end

Although milk teeth are constantly being replaced by permanent teeth from the age of 6, the process does not happen overnight and lasts up to 6 years. During this time, milk teeth are still susceptible to decay. The reasons for this are mainly related to the relatively low level of enamel calcification in the milk teeth themselves and poor dietary or oral hygiene habits.

Early withdrawal of milk teeth due to decay may result in: (1) a reduction in the overall chewing function of the tooth line until the permanent teeth, their successors, come in; and (2) a negative impact on the development of the jawbone. As milk teeth with normal mastication function promote healthy jawbone development, premature loss of milk teeth can easily lead to underdevelopment of the jawbone, resulting in the jaw and facial deformities and dental crowding; (3) permanent teeth cannot grow in their established position due to the loss of the milk teeth leading them and are also prone to misalignment. Therefore, it is important to keep the baby's teeth healthy for the development of permanent teeth.

The period of tooth replacement is also one of the most important stages in the development of teeth. Good dental care during this period is also a foundation for future oral health. We hope that parents will pay attention to oral health care during the period of tooth replacement because this is the real meaning of winning at the starting line!