Why Is My Child’s Tooth Turning Brown? What You Need To Know

If your child’s tooth is turning brown, you may be concerned. This isn’t normal, right? Does it mean that something’s seriously wrong with their oral health? What should you do? In this blog from Arctic Dental, we’ll discuss everything you need to know.

Baby Teeth Can Turn Brown After An Oral Injury

If your child bumps one of their baby teeth and injures it, this can cause it to turn dark. For example, if they fall down and bump their tooth on a table or a piece of furniture, this can traumatize the tooth and cause it to turn dark.

This can happen even with relatively minor injuries. It also usually doesn’t happen right away. It may take up to 2-3 weeks for the tooth to turn dark, so many parents won’t realize that their childs’ brown tooth is related to bumping or damaging their baby tooth. 

Why does this happen? Basically, you can think of this as a bruise. The blood supply inside the tooth may have been damaged, causing some blood to leak into the structures of the tooth and turn it a brown, dark, or purplish color.

There’s good news, though. Over time, the dark tooth will likely lighten up. This can take up to 3-6 months. The tooth will likely go back to its original color eventually. 

However, if the tooth doesn’t lighten back up, this could indicate that it’s seriously damaged or it may be infected. Because of this, you should definitely come to Arctic Dental and see Dr. Jarod once you notice that one of your child’s teeth is turning brown. He can diagnose the issue and make sure your child gets the care they need.

A Brown Tooth Can Also Indicate Tooth Decay Or Infection 

A brown tooth may also indicate a deep cavity in a baby tooth or adult tooth, especially if you can see a visible hole or pit in the tooth in addition to the discoloration. In some cases, the cavity may be so large that it will cause a tooth infection, which is a serious oral health issue.

Tooth infections can result in tooth loss, so if you suspect that your child’s brown tooth is due to a cavity or a tooth infection, you need to get help right away. This is particularly true if one of their adult teeth is turning brown.

If your child is complaining of tooth pain, sensitivity, or tenderness near the affected tooth, the cause of their brown tooth is likely decay or an infection, and you should get help right away from Dr. Jarod. 

Does Your Child Have A Brown Tooth? Come And See Dr. Jarod Today! 

Brown teeth are abnormal. And while they’re not always harmful, they can sometimes indicate deeper issues with your child’s teeth. So if your child has one or more teeth that are turning brown, you shouldn’t take any chances. Contact Arctic Dental online or give us a call at (563) 607-5979 to get a consultation with Dr. Jarod right away, and get the expert dental care you need in Muscatine.