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One of the most charming aspects of your baby’s beautiful smile is his brilliantly white teeth. But now that his adult teeth are coming in, the difference in color is very noticeable. Is this something to be concerned about? Happily, probably not.

Both baby teeth and adult teeth have the same basic structure. The inside of the tooth, the pulp, contains blood vessels and nerves. The pulp is covered by a layer of dentin, a hard, yellowish substance composed of living tissue that helps protect the pulp and transmits signals for pain, pressure, and temperature. Enamel is the outer protective covering of the tooth, and its natural color can vary from greyish-white to light yellow.

If primary and permanent teeth are so alike, how can they look so different? As with so many things, the difference lies in the details. In adult teeth, enamel is semi-translucent, so it will allow the color of what is beneath it to show through. And the color of the thick dentin beneath is naturally yellow. Baby teeth have a thinner layer of the yellowish dentin. And while their enamel is also thinner, the enamel in baby teeth is generally whiter and more opaque, so less of the underlying yellow from the dentin is visible.

The result of these small differences is that adult teeth are normally darker than baby teeth to begin with. And when a permanent tooth that is just a bit darker erupts next to a bright white baby tooth, it is going to look even more yellow than it actually is. Once all of the baby teeth in front have been replaced with adult teeth, you will have a much better idea of their real color without unflattering comparisons!

There are times when concerns about tooth color should be looked at by Dr. Chad Vanourny more closely.

• Unusual discoloration in teeth should be examined. Some discoloration is caused by medical conditions such as hypomineralization, some by environmental factors such as excess fluoride, some by trauma, some by medication. If you notice a discolored section of your child’s tooth, or the tooth has turned a different shade from the teeth around it, give us a call.
• Your child might have naturally whiter or yellower teeth simply as a matter of genetics. If your child is self-conscious about the color of his teeth, we can talk about whitening solutions when he is old enough to use them safely. Home whitening products should never be used on young children.

Give yourself time to adjust to your child’s new, adult smile. You will probably notice no difference at all once all of his permanent teeth come in. And keep those new teeth their brightest with consistent brushing and flossing, and regular checkups and cleanings at our Charlotte office. This is the simplest prescription for a charming, white, and healthy smile at any age.

While Dr. Chad Vanourny and our team tell you daily oral hygiene habits, such as brushing and flossing, are essential to optimal oral health, regular dental checkups at Catawba Valley Dental Care ensure your teeth are treated to a deeper level of cleaning.

We recommend for most of our patients to have a cleaning at our Charlotte office at least every six months. In addition to a thorough cleaning and polishing of your teeth, visits with Dr. Chad Vanourny help us detect and prevent the onset of tooth decay and gum disease, also known as periodontal disease. During your visit, we will check the health of your mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks, and tongue for signs of any decay or disease. We will also check old fillings and restorations as these can wear away over time due to chewing, clenching, or grinding.

If you are predisposed to any oral diseases, Dr. Chad Vanourny may recommend checking in with us more often than every six months. We want your teeth to get the professional attention they deserve! If you are overdue for your next cleaning, give us a call at our Charlotte office to schedule a checkup! See you soon!

We understand how crazy and stressful this time of year can be. There’s so much to do and yet it feels like there’s not enough time to do it! No fear, we’re not here to add anything to the list. Instead, we’re here with a few helpful tips to keep your children’s smile healthy.

We highly encourage staying on top of your child's daily oral health habits once school is back in session. We suggest having them brush their teeth after breakfast and before school to ensure a healthy, fresh smile at the start of their day. After lunch, encourage your student(s) to rinse down their meal with some water. This will help minimize the effects of sugary foods and drinks. If you want to ensure they get an extra good clean after lunch, pack their bag with a travel-size container of mouthwash. Since it’s small and easy to use, they can use it in the bathroom or at the drinking fountain.

Alright, let’s talk sports! For our student athletes that are interested in playing a contact sport, make sure they have a well-fitted mouthguard. This can help protect their beautiful teeth from getting chipped or broken. If your child does encounter a dental injury, make sure to visit your dentist right away. Also, be careful with sports drinks! They often contain a lot of sugar so it's best not to drink too much. If possible, opt for the sugar-free version!

As we mentioned before, we’re not here to add another thing to your plate, but it is important that your children visit the dentist regularly. When it’s time to schedule their visit, we offer appointments early in the day and after school hours to help accommodate your schedule. Between visits, make sure you establish a good oral health routine and healthy eating habits with your child. Creating these consistent routines helps them stick with it as they grow up.

Lastly, we wanted to take a moment to highlight our Invisalign services! This service is great for students and their parents as it allows you to achieve an aligned, beautiful smile without braces. Interested in learning more? Give our office a call today!

That’s all! From all of us here at Catawba Valley Dental Care, we wish you the best of luck this back-to-school season!

Your darling three-month old is crying and fussy—can she be teething already? Or, your happy baby boy has just celebrated his first birthday—with only one tooth in that beautiful, gummy smile. Is this normal? Probably! While baby teeth do typically erupt (come in) in the same order for all babies, and around the same time, there is still a lot of flexibility in the time it takes for a full, healthy smile to develop.

Baby teeth actually form before your baby is born, and those 20 teeth are there under the gums waiting to come out and shine. And even though there are no firm and fast dates for each of these primary teeth to erupt, it’s helpful to have a general overview of typical teething patterns so you know what to look forward to.

Incisors

These little teeth create a charming baby smile, and, if your finger has been in the wrong place at the wrong time, a very sharp one as well! That is because these tiny incisors are made to bite into foods. You might notice this when you introduce solid foods, even if the majority of your child’s “chewing” is done with her back gums. These teeth are the earliest to arrive.

• Six to ten months old: The lower central incisors (bottom front teeth) are often the first to come in.
• Eight to 12 months old: The upper incisors (8-12 months) are the next to show.
• Nine to 13 months old: The upper lateral incisors on each side of the front teeth arrive.
• Ten to 16 months old: The lower lateral incisors appear.

First Molars

Because these are larger teeth, babies often experience another bout of teething pain at this time. The large flat surface of each molar helps your child to chew and grind food, so he can handle a wider variety of foods and develop his chewing skills.

• 13 to 19 months old: You can generally expect to see the upper first molars arrive.
• 14 to 18 months old: The lower first molars appear.

Canines (Cuspids)

Fitting between the first molars and the incisors, the strong, pointed shape of the canine teeth allows your child to grip food and break it apart more easily.

• 16 to 22 months old: The upper two canines make their way into the space between the incisors and the first molars.
• 17 to 23 months old: The two lower canines appear.

Second Molars

By the age of three, most children have a full set of baby teeth.

• 23 to 31 months old: The second pair of bottom molars start erupting—you are in the home stretch!
• 25 to 33 months old: The upper second molars come in—completing that beautiful set of 20 teeth!

Baby teeth are extremely important, as Dr. Chad Vanourny will tell you when you visit our Charlotte office. They help your child eat and chew, develop face and jaw muscles, assist proper speech formation, and provide space for the adult teeth to come in properly. Now that your child’s smile is complete, keep providing him with the same care and attention you have been giving those little teeth since the arrival of the very first incisor.

It seems that so much of new parenthood is scheduling—when to feed her, when to put her to bed, how many hours between naps. But we soon find out that every baby is not on the same schedule, and the same is true for the arrival of their teeth. We should see your baby when that first tooth comes in, or by his or her first birthday. And if you ever have concerns at any time about your child’s teething schedule or teething delays, always feel free to give us a call.