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Original poster

Dentist didn't believe dd brushes her teeth everyday

22 replies

CupCupGoose · 12/11/2019 13:04

Dd is 8 and has very yellow adult teeth. She has an electric toothbrush and one of those 2 minute sand timers. She brushes twice a day with adult toothpaste. She spits and doesn't rinse after. I'm very strict with her diet so doesn't have many sugary foods and only drinks water.

She had a dentist appointment today and basically the dentist didn't believe that dds teeth were being brushed everyday. Obviously I insisted they were but I know she thinks I'm lying. There wasn't any plaque on her teeth as I checked. Up until about 2 or 3 months ago, I brushed dds teeth myself. I've only just started letting her do it herself. So I just don't understand why her teeth are so yellow! Does anyone know how I can help with the yellow?

OP posts:
gamerchick · 12/11/2019 13:05

Do you watch her do it?

ExpatInAGrump · 12/11/2019 13:10

I had this and I don't think the dentist would have believed me had I not had DC2 with me. They eat the same, they use the same brand toothpaste and toothbrushes. They brush the same number of times a day and either DH or I do the evening brush and floss. DC1's teeth are yellow, DC2's are not.

DearTeddyRobinson · 12/11/2019 13:14

What do you mean you checked for plaque? Did you use a disclosing tablet? Surely the dentist told you if there were any problems?

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Original poster
CupCupGoose · 12/11/2019 13:16

Yes I do watch 95% of the time. The odd time I don't but I absolutely believe she brushed them even when I'm not watching. I know people won't agree with this but I haven't shown my DC pictures of tooth decay and they are terrified of the same happening to them. They know how important teeth brushing is.

Expat, I didn't have ds with me but its the same with us. He has lovely white adult teeth but has the same amount of sugary food, only drinks water, same toothbrush and toothpaste ect.

OP posts:
CookPassBabtridge · 12/11/2019 13:16

It's annoying isn't it. DP rarely brushes his and has perfect teeth and NEVER had a filling. I brush twice a day and only my front teeth don't have fillings. Sometimes it's genetics.

Original poster
CupCupGoose · 12/11/2019 13:16

That should say HAVE not haven't.

OP posts:
ginyogarepeat · 12/11/2019 13:29

Could there be an issue with the enamel on her teeth? Mind you you'd think a dentist would detect that!

AlpineCoromandel · 12/11/2019 13:31

Has she got hypoplastic teeth?

BlueCornsihPixie · 12/11/2019 13:51

A dentist knows the difference between yellow teeth and plaque, they look entirely different, again a dentist would know if they were hypoplastic and it doesn't sound like they are decayed, just yellow. Some teeth are just yellow, nothing you can do. Only thing is whitening when she's an adult.

If the dentist doesn't believe you, there was obviously plaque on your DDs teeth. At 8 she might be brushing but not doing a very good job, I'd probably start doing them again for her.

Original poster
CupCupGoose · 12/11/2019 13:54

Alpine, I had to Google that, but that's exactly what I think it is! It's a very patchy yellow she has on her teeth, just like the pictures.

OP posts:
thegreatestgiftthatipossess · 12/11/2019 13:56

My dentist told me that some people are predisposed to having yellow teeth. No amount of whiting will ever make them white. I discovered this only after paying out to have mine done twice.

LifeSpectator · 12/11/2019 14:30

one of my kids has very yellow teeth i hadnt really noticed it as they had braces for a few years, and i suppose it was just their teeth, but once at about 14years old, the dentist metntioned in passing that its unfortunate on one level , but he said good news is yellow teeth are generally stronger. He went on to say dont waste money on whitening tooth pastes as wont change the basic colour, only works if you have stained teeth with wine, coffee or your a smoker. Thats was the only reason he mentioned it. Seems odd if her teeth are same a dentist would know this did he see something else that worried him, my dentist always finishes up a check up with my younger ds by gettings his side kick to show my ds how to clean them as he does a rotten job and his teeth are much whiter.

Autumntoowet · 12/11/2019 14:38

I have naturally yellow teeth. Not bright yellow but they have never been white.
My dentists always say my hygiene is perfect and I have them cleaned twice a year.
I also had lots of fillings as a child.
My DC has enamel hypoplasia
It is a genetic thing and I feel so shitty about it. That dentist should have given you better information

AlpineCoromandel · 12/11/2019 14:49

CupCupGoose i only know of it as i was told i had that when i was a kid

Likethebattle · 12/11/2019 18:26

I have yellowish teeth and brush every day the dentist said everyone teeth vary similar to all of us having a slightly different skin tone. My brother has perfect straight, white teeth. I e fired braces for two years and my teeth are still squint 😫. One thing that my mum mentioned was that when she was pregnant with my older brother she took calcium supplements and vitamins but any calcium at all with me made her violently sick. I wonder if calcium on the womb has any effect?

Lulualla · 12/11/2019 18:29

I came on to say hypoplastic. My son has it, but the dentist has never blamed me. They diagnosed and explained what might happen in the future etc. Did the dentist not even think about other causes? That's pretty bad of them.

GrumpyHoonMain · 12/11/2019 18:29

I am anemic and can get yellow teeth without plaque. Have yet to meet a dentist who couldn’t differentiate between a real medical condition and plaque - so I kind of agree with the others. Your dd clearly isn’t brushing appropriately

BlueCornsihPixie · 13/11/2019 07:09

Probably because lula hypoplasia is really recognisable, and looks entirely different to decay or poorly brushed teeth, and if the DDs teeth are hypoplastcic it would have been picked up when the teeth first came though

It's really obvious when children aren't brushing their teeth. It's really not just 'yellow teeth'. Dentists train for 5 years, they can tell the difference between plaque/inflam, hypoplasia, yellow teeth and decay.

At the end of the day even if they are hypoplaatic she's going to need to improve her brushing so why not just listen to the dentist

Joerev · 13/11/2019 07:18

I had incredibly yellow teeth growing up. My dentist used to say. The yellower they are. The stronger they are and if they are naturally grey or black. That can be the strongest teeth ever. I didn’t have any cavities growing up. Not till I was 30? I also had teeth pulled when I was 18!! As I had baby teeth.

Joerev · 13/11/2019 07:19

However. I had this treatment called bright white. Cost me £1000 at the time

Took my teeth something like 20 shades lighter than they’d ever been and has lasted all my adult life. Had it done over 20 years ago too!

Joerev · 13/11/2019 07:22

My youngest had PFAPA. Threw up constantly for 2 years. The acid eroded her teeth. So she has significant problems to her enamel. She’s seen two dentists. And a maxillofacial dentist at the hospital. All went it’s not a problem! Don’t worry. Unless it effects her adult teeth. Which we don’t know yet.

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