Color Difference Between Baby and Adult Teeth?

When looking in your child’s mouth, you may notice that their baby teeth are not the same color as their adult teeth. Baby (primary) teeth have a thinner layer of enamel and dentin compared to adult (permanent) teeth. Your enamel is the protective, outermost layer of your tooth. The dentin is the inner layer that protects your nerve (pulp) tissue.

Since the enamel is thinner or more see-through, permanent teeth appear more yellow to gray in color since you are seeing the darker dentin below. When your child is in the mixed dentition (primary and permanent teeth), it is normal for the color difference to be more evident. When all of the primary teeth have been replaced by permanent teeth, the color should be more uniform. You will be comparing apples to apples and not apples to oranges!