More DC area kids and teens are asking about teeth whitening

Cavities and crooked teeth are standard fare for pediatric dentists. But in recent years, professionals who tend to children and teens say another question is coming up more often: When can I start whitening my teeth?

“I think I get this question almost every day,” says Dr. Elizabeth Shin of Bethesda Chevy Chase Pediatric Dentistry. “It’s one of the biggest concerns they have, other than orthodontics and the position of their teeth.” Shin estimates that a decade ago she heard the question less than five times a year. Along with the increase in inquiries, Shin has noticed a decrease in the age of children expressing interest. It used to be mostly teenagers, but now kids as young as ten are asking about bleaching.

As with many appearance-related teenage anxieties, social platforms play a role. “I think there’s definitely more comparative awareness of kids based on social media,” he says Dr. Karen Benitez of Chevy Chase Pediatric Dentistry. “They tend to notice things about each other and themselves at a much younger age than we would have. I think it’s more ingrained in them because of image after image that either has a filter or a lot of self-enhancement.”

In a University of Michigan Survey 2022, parents who reported that their children were self-aware were twice as likely to report that their child was more influenced by social media than by personal interactions. In the same survey, 18 percent of parents reported that their child was aware of their teeth. It doesn’t help that on Tik-Tok and Instagram, the use of whitening filters makes it look like everyone has shiny chompers. Additionally, veneers continue to proliferate across Hollywood, and influencers—once lauded for authenticity—are also getting the veneers, filling screens with an endless march of straight, bright teeth. “[Kids] don’t realize that these models or celebrities have veneers,” she says Dr. Angela Austin Pediatric Dentistry of Alexandria.

Children aren’t the only ones asking about bleaching. According to Austin, parents are asking about the treatment for their children as well. “When those front teeth start to come in, between the ages of seven and nine, parents will notice that they’re much more yellow than the primary teeth,” she says. Austin reassures them that the difference is normal and because of the thicker enamel on the permanent teeth, it makes them appear darker than the milky-white primary teeth.

While they help families understand the appearance of real teeth, dentists we spoke with say they don’t want to dismiss a child’s concern. “Sometimes children may have a predisposition to tooth staining that is less favorable than what they have seen,” says Benitez. “Out of respect for the kids, I can understand where they’re coming from. I think it’s a matter of choice on a case-by-case basis.” For her, that includes listening and getting to the root of their concern. “Helping them think about what’s going on [in their life] That translates into that bleaching desire and understanding of the emotional background behind it all.” Even so, it will not progress if a patient still has mostly baby teeth.

Last year, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry updated instructions around whitening for children, noting that the agency “recognizes the desire for teeth whitening from pediatric and adolescent patients.” The AAPD supports procedures that are safe and effective, but discourages full arch treatments in children who still have baby teeth. Tooth and gum sensitivity can be a problem for some kids, Austin says, and whitening too early could potentially cause a mismatch in tooth color once they’re fully developed. However, if a child has reached 14 or 15, the risks are low. “If they really want to do it, there’s not much harm in it,” says Austin.

However, she’s an advocate for helping kids learn to love their smiles just the way they are, even if it’s not the image of an Instagram filter. “I’m not a fan of everyone’s smile looking the same,” says Austin. “I love a bit of uniqueness to the teeth.”

Top Pediatric Dentists

This list of dentists, voted the best by their peers for treating children and adolescents, first appeared in the March 2023 issue as part of a list of top dentists in all specialties.

Debra L. Jeffries

DC? 202-584-3848.

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More DC area kids and teens are asking about teeth whitening

Top Pediatric Dentists

Debra L. Jeffries

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