Occasionally, children may develop black or orange stains on their teeth. Sometimes this can come from iron supplements or iron-fortified foods, and in some cases, it’s a sign of decay eating into the enamel. In other cases, it’s due to bacteria forming colonies on the tooth that can’t be removed during at-home teeth cleaning. Here’s what you need to know about these types of chromogenic bacteria stains.

Types of Stains

If you see a thin black line on the tooth surface near the gums or the area between two teeth, it can be due to either bacteria or iron. Orange stains on the front and back of the upper teeth are also due to bacteria. If you notice green or greenish-yellow stains, these are usually caused by simply failing to brush and are easy to get rid of.

How They Form

All people have bacteria in their mouths which multiply over time and need to be removed through teeth cleaning. Children tend to have slightly different types of bacteria than adults while also having poorer brushing skills. This can lead to dramatic stains when the bacteria aren’t disrupted often enough.

Treatment & Prevention

Once the bacteria have been in place for more than a day or two, the plaque they form hardens into tartar, which can’t be removed with a toothbrush and needs professional teeth cleaning by a dentist. To prevent the stains from recurring in the future, encourage your child to brush their teeth thoroughly twice a day, and feed them a healthy diet low in sugar and colored drinks that can contribute to staining. As they get older and their mouths change, they’ll be less vulnerable to these specific types of bacteria as well.

If the stains come from iron supplements, the health benefits of the supplements may outweigh the problem of stains. Talk to your child's doctor about whether to continue using them, and ask about changing the dose.

For professional teeth cleaning in La Crosse, WI, choose Main Street Dental. Dr. Dan Kujak and his team have over 30 years of history treating dental patients of all ages. They keep up to date with treatment technology, offering teeth whitening and CEREC® same-day restorations. To make an appointment, call (608) 784-4063 or visit their website.