Both external and internal things can lead to brown staining on a child’s teeth.
It can be alarming to see your child’s teeth showing signs of blotchy brown stains. Teeth staining can affect your child’s appearance and self-confidence, so it is important to know what can cause it and the best way to prevent it.
Our adult daughter has cerebral palsy and requires being fully sedated when having anything done. The DAC was such a positive experience. Dr Hoffmann and his staff were kind and did great explaining things. As a mom, I had a lot of questions about how certain things would be done as usually she’s in her chair when getting examined at her local dentist and they had everything under control including transferring from her chair to the dentist chair and keeping her secured in the dentist chair as well as keeping her neck and legs comfortable. Many thanks to them!
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TWENTY YEARS! That is how long our special needs son has been seeing Dr Hoffman and his dedicated team! Our son suffers from an intellectual disability, is non-verbal, and is unable to cooperate for dental cleaning, x-rays, or other routine dental work. He requires general anesthesia. It is such a blessing to avoid a hospital setting just for dental work.
The team is always well staffed, friendly, personable and very professional. Every single year we have been supported by a deeply caring team who are dedicated to patients with a very wide range of disabilities and needs. They have shared useful dental advice and tools (3 sided toothbrushes, blocks to hold open their mouth for daily at-home care, etc.) which improved our son’s daily dental care. We always receive a call back the day after to check his recovery-even on weekends!
Highly recommended and so appreciative to have this team supporting our ever long road of raising a special needs son.
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We've been coming to Dr.Hoffman for twenty years. There's a reason we keep coming back! He's great. His staff is great. He's double boarded as an MD (Anesthesia) and DDS!!! Our son with special needs needs sedation for even a cleaning. You get what you pay for. He's expensive and... we know he's getting the best care!
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Searching for a new dental clinic is challenging for someone who has dental anxiety, fear, and traumatic experiences in a dental chair. The staff and doctors at the Dental Anesthesia Center were immediately very welcoming. Dr. Thoms put together a very detailed plan to repair and replace the previous work that I had in the past that was now causing problems. Putting my faith in him was the best thing that I could have done for my situation. I am more than completely satisfied with all of the extensive dental work that I’ve had with Dr.Thoms. I had my fourth sleep dentistry experience yesterday and I’m very happy with my results. I highly recommend this practice and truly want to give them more than five stars! Thank you for giving me back my health and confidence.
Response from the owner:We know it isn’t always easy to find a dental office where you feel at ease, so your words mean the world to us. We’re so glad you feel comfortable with our team and truly appreciate your trust and recommendation!
Both external and internal things can lead to brown staining on a child’s teeth. To know how to prevent them, and if it is already present, to eliminate it, it is important to know what the cause is.
The following list can help you discover potential causes for the stains on your child’s teeth:
Dental cavities – One of the most common reasons for brown staining in children’s teeth is dental caries (also called cavities). Poor bottle feeding, oral care habits, or nutrition might be to blame for your child’s dental cavities.
Genetic factors – Some children may have brown stains on their teeth because it is hereditary and an inherited trait. Not everyone’s teeth are the same shade.
Major Trauma – When a tooth has experienced significant change or trauma, it is not uncommon for it to stain. This type of staining is especially common with impact injuries.
Too much fluoride – If your child ingests too much fluoride, it can cause tooth discoloration that can lead to staining of the teeth known as fluorosis.
Early tooth decay – Tooth decay results from poor oral care and can not only affect baby teeth and lead to staining, but it can also carry into the permanent teeth if the decay gets underneath the tooth and is able to damage the gums.
Chromogenic and iron bacteria – Chromogenic and iron bacteria is the result of staining done by certain medications, foods, and drinks. Certain acne medications are famous for this.
Brown Spot on Tooth But No Pain – Should You Be Concerned?
Sometimes a brown spot on a baby tooth appears without any pain or sensitivity. In many cases, this may not be an emergency—but it still deserves attention. Possible causes include:
Early decay that hasn’t reached the nerve
Staining from iron supplements or medications
Mild fluorosis
Genetic enamel irregularities
Even if your child isn’t complaining, a pediatric dental exam can rule out underlying issues and recommend the best course of action.
What should you do if you notice brown stains?
If you notice that there are brown stains on your child’s teeth, or that there are recent changes to the color of them, then it is best to call your pediatric dentist to have them examine your child to find out what the cause is and how you can correct it.
Sometimes the fix is an easy one and sometimes it might be more complex, but the earlier that you tackle the problem, the more likely you are to get a good outcome and do away with the teeth staining. Addressing any staining immediately is also important to prevent it from spreading to other teeth, or to prevent it from becoming permanent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Brown stains on baby teeth can be caused by cavities, excess fluoride (fluorosis), trauma, genetics, or bacterial buildup from food and drinks.
Yes, brown stains, especially near the gum line or deep in grooves, can indicate tooth decay. A dentist can assess if treatment is needed.
Yes, excessive fluoride exposure can cause fluorosis, leading to brown or white streaks on baby teeth.
Brushing twice daily, using a soft toothbrush, and regular dental cleanings can help. A dentist can remove stubborn stains.
If stains persist, spread, or worsen, consult a pediatric dentist to identify the cause and possible treatments.
St. Louis Pediatric Dentist
If you notice that there are any changes to your child’s teeth, or if they have had oral trauma that you fear might lead to staining, it is important to discuss what options are available to fix the stains on your child’s teeth and to restore them to their original shade of pearly white. Call your pediatric dentist today to address any concerns that you might have about your child’s oral appearance.
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