(English) Discolored teeth in children
Q. Why are some children’s teeth have a brownish or greenish hue. What caused this and what can be done about it?
A. Children’s permanent teeth often are surroundedby a soft tissue membrane called Nasmyth’s Membrane (named after Alexander Nasmyth, a Scottish dental surgeon in London who died in 1847). As the teeth erupt, remnants of this membrane remain on the surface of the enamel. The fibrous nature of the membrane readily picks up coloration from food.
In most cases normal chewing and brushing will remove the remnants with time. If they don’t come off, they can be removed by having a professional cleaning.
Other causes for staining of teeth include high fevers during infancy, too much fluoride in drinking water and certain medications, especially, the antibiotic – tetracycline, if taken while the teeth are still forming.
Depending on the child’s age, there are options. Call us so we can discuss it personally.