Any dentists that can answer a question re DD4 having fluorosis

[HopelesslyHopeful87]

DD4 has been for routine dental check up this morning. She has fluorosis that has developed over the past 6-12 months. She uses an oral b kids electric toothbrush and age appropriate Toothpaste, namely aquafresh 3-5 years.

Dentist pretty much accused me of lying saying that I'm clearly using adult Toothpaste on her and a rubbish toothbrush. I've left feeling really rubbish like it's my fault.

I'm aware this is purely a cosmetic thing and once she loses these teeth it won't be an issue but what I don't understand is the fluoride level on her 3-5 Toothpaste is the same as the fluoride level on my adult Toothpaste.

So how does this work? The dentist was really short and sharp with me so didn't feel like he wanted to answer my questions and just told me to change what I'm using to something more appropriate which I'm already doing 🤔

F

firstly i’m so sorry you have been treat this way when you’re obviously a brilliant parent taking your child to check ups etc!

i don’t have any answers unfortunately however, i just started a similar thread around a similar issue.. i was just told to “brush my child’s teeth more often😳” despite my child brushing with electric toothbrush & age appropriate toothpaste like yourself! no signs of decay i was given no diagnosis! do they have white patches on like this? as my 6 year old has …

do you live in an area where fluride is in the water? you can check your postcode and see .. if i were you i’d get a second opinion … i know hard these days with state of the system … but if it is fluridosis she may need her toothpaste strength changing to accommodate this especially if she is getting fluride from the tap water too

hugs to you xx

forgot to add photo 🤣

Yes her two front teeth are patchy like that, two different colours.

I'll Google and see if I can check the water levels thanks I didn't think of that.

A second opinion isn't an option unfortunately. Dentist spaces here are like rocking horse poop.

We have the oral b kids 3+ toothbrush for her and brush twice daily, limit sweets etc.

Thank you for your reply. I'm so annoyed we've come away and I've been made to feel like a failure. My other 2 kids have had issues picked up today too despite regular brushing with electric toothbrushes. Feel like a right shit mum tbh.

Just don't understand why the fluoride levels are the same in her Toothpaste and our Toothpaste. So what's the point in child's Toothpaste?!

What is the fluoride level OP?

Fluorosis is developmental, not acquired. You say it “developed over the last 6-12 months”. In this case it isn’t fluorosis. Slightly concerning that a dentist appears not to understand fluorosis!

Secondly, concerning that your dentist appears unaware of something you have discovered yourself - that toothpastes for age 3+ have an identical fluoride content to those designed for adults. The “point” of children’s toothpastes in this age is usually that they are more palatable flavours - I often recommend the fruity flavours to adults who don’t brush effectively (or at all) due to an aversion to mint.

Patches that have newly appeared on a child’s teeth could be many things, but demineralization is the most likely. This is the earliest stage of decay where the surface of the enamel loses minerals. Good news is that it is reversible. Keep up the brushing, but also bear in mind that the single most important thing to reduce the risk of decay is actually diet. You need to ensure that you minimise the amount and -most importantly - frequency of sugar intakes. So only water to drink between meals and cut out snacks.

Past 3, kids toothpastes generally have the same fluoride content as adults as per guidelines. You're just meant to use less (and also they usually have milder flavours - DD used ours once and the mint nearly blew her head off ) Other than that just marketing though.

She definitely didn't have this discolouration a year ago. So I really don't know how to explain it. She doesn't have a lot of snacks, she's really a minimal eater so she has breakfast lunch and dinner and she had a midmorning snack when she was at nursery but was always pretty healthy stuff. I don't let her have loads of sweets. She barely eats meals so I'm pretty scrict when it comes to food between meals if she can't eat a meal she doesn't get extras. I can't take a pic of the discolouration as she's gone to her dad's for the weekend now.

I'm in Lincolnshire which Google tells me is an area that fluoride is added to the water. She's had adult Toothpaste once and as previously commented the mint killed her off 😂 she back to children's Toothpaste.

Thanks for the replies.

Does she eat a lot of things like fruit (particularly raisins) or yoghurts in between meals? They're pretty sugary in terms of tooth decay. I try to only give my children fruit, raisins, biscuits and ice cream as puddings not snacks. For snacks they have cheese, crackers or toast.

@HopelesslyHopeful87 Ds7 had fluorosis according to the dentist at last years check up. His front teeth were slightly discoloured. We are also in Lincolnshire. Dentist was more polite & said it wasn’t anything to be overly concerned with and his teeth were in good condition baby & adult ones coming through. He uses adult toothpaste but a small amount. Sibling dd6 is showing similar now. Somewhat concerned now

My son has mottled adult teeth when they came through. I’ve tried to discuss it with a few different dentists he’s seen over the years and none of them are concerned. Wouldn’t say if it was fluorosis or not. It’s definitely not decay so they’re not worried. It’s cosmetic basically and I guess well see what it looks like when he’s much older and his from there.

• go from there

it’s just his top front teeth.

Change dentists! Awful way to speak to a patient. Age 3-5 paste has the same amount of fluoride as adult toothpaste and age 4 this is what she should be using anyway. You don't need to change anything, brush twice a day with a manual or electric toothbrush and use a toothpaste with fluoride level at 1450ppm.

My son has patches like this on his two front teeth and it dentist informed me that they are hyperplastic.

Not a dentist but a dental nurse.

Children only need a pea sized amount so just make sure it's no larger than that.

The dentist was very very rude and there was no need to accuse you of lying.

Did you take any antibiotics in pregnancy by any chance?

She definitely only uses a small amount as the toothbrush head isn't that much bigger to fit anymore on anyway. She never does it herself, always me doing it (or her dad when she's there and I've checked with him and he has same Toothpaste for her there and does same as me).

I don't think I had antibiotics in pregnancy. I had hyperemesis and took prochlorperazine and ondansetron throughout the pregnancy until delivery. I was anaemic and barely ate for 9 months. She had Cmpa as a baby, outgrew by age 3. Perhaps it's calcium related 🤷🏻‍♀️

My DSis was bottle fed from three months with formula in fluorinated water and has this on her adult teeth. Myself and other DSis were bottle fed the same but no fluorine in the water and our teeth are fine. Could it be the water? I don't think it should be added to water as you can not guarantee the dose!

I've just googled a bit more thoroughly than yesterday and it appears there is no added fluoride in our water supply.

@HopelesslyHopeful87 how strange i also had HG & was on medication for this - cyclizine

@HopelesslyHopeful87 @unknown88x
i had Hg with ds, cyclizine & he was diagnosed with CMPA at 12 months.

I don't know why I've never made this connection before. Ffs.

I've got 4 kids. Hg with all 4. Only medicated with youngest 3. All 3 had/have cmpa. Eldest doesn't.

I wonder if there's actually any medical evidence on this.

*runs to Google.

There we go then, this is not you adding too much fluoride you had HG. HG actually effects the teeth more so then it would with s bulimia parent etc.

It's not your fault you were poorly. That dentist was rude and rather than sit and explain and listen, accused you of lying when in reality a lot of things can cause your child to have fluorosis.

Hello, I know this thread has been inactive for a few days but I ah e a similar concern on fluorosis and wondered if anyone could help - maybe @PinkButtercups you could advise? I wondered what age the enamel starts developing for the second teeth? Is it from birth or from age 4 or when?for how long would you need to be exposed to significant amounts of fluoride for it to occur?