Im so upset babys teeth crumbling. No enamel

[Lizzy2022]

Baby was born full term thankfully no complications. At 3-4 month some of his topfront baby teeth started coming through. Almost instantly I knew there was a problem with one but assumed it was just me being over protective and worrying. I looked under a uv light and noticed 1 tooth was glowing. By 6 month ( 2 months of front 4 teeth coming fully through) I booked an appointment for the dentis. His tooth left next to front 2 had chipped and was discolouring a little. I was told it wasn't an emergency appointment as it often happens..... make sure to brush

On wait for dentist it chipped again at some point chewing teething toys, tge again day or so before appointment and levelled off. Now 9 months old and tooth mostly through my dentist ( fairly young and new ) accused me of not brushing babys teeth, bad diet and sugar drinks, sweets and to do better. Baby was still mainly breastfed and only just trying solids and hadn't had sweets etc. I had also been attempting to brush multiple times a day as best you can with a unhappy screaming flailing 6-9 month old. Dentist prescribed a adult high flouride toothpaste which made my baby cry. it was so strong in flavour and would refuse to put a brush in his mouth.
It took month or 2 using a childs toothpaste, playing with several brushes through day to gaining some trust and a bit wrestling and both us crying at times to get him to let me brush properly. He did refer me to local specialist ( only after demanding) as babies/ children arnt his thing. Clearly as he asked me his school routine and aged my 9 month old as 4. he didnt even really look in his mouth.
I waited over 6 months for local specialist. She was less insulting but had never see this before other than txt books and to know properly reffered to see another specialist. Said it could of been illness likely antibiotics I was given during pregnancy ( had a short course for mild water infection at random tests). By this point his front 6 teeth top and bottom were all through . 2 next to the front 2 looked patchy and is a tiny pin prick dinted discoloured line on one front tooth and pin prick on other front one ( back side of tooth is fine). She advised the prescribed toothpaste to be binned immediately and would be dangerous to his adult teeth along with too strong flavour. Only to use a child's higher %fluoride ( as I had been using since day 1.)
Now he is just few days short of being 2. finally seen the specialist. Again they started off accusing me of causing this by bad oral hygiene, too many sugary snacks. Got his name and Gender wrong several times so hadnt read notes. Wouldn't listen at all that it started instantly and didnt rot this way ( all thats happened is they have discolored more. So then its my fault for brestfeeding on a night and I should of given him water after ( even as new baby). When I said I'd been told genetics or antibiotics...she said yes could be if you had them during pregnancy. I said I did so she dropped it....but I was already upset. His other teeth are beautiful and clean.
She wants to pull out 5 of his teeth. All 4 front ones and one at back currently non are causing any issues and back one had hardly visible dot of missing enamel that she looked 3 times to see or not. Or while he is under pull4 then her words put a "uglyblack cap" over his whole back tooth so he will be able to chew. I agree 2 are a big problem visually now and will need to come out soon. Im just devastated they messed me around so long this is now the "only option" for any of his teeth. Especially wanting to pull 3 as just incase vrs coat them, and try look after them. Give him time to learn to speak, eat etc.

My brother lost some of his teeth from being sick alot as a early baby. The amount of teasing he got was horrific for being "gummy" and talking differently. My older 2 girls get left out and worse for being duel race. This is just extra ammo to make this little ones life so much harder at school. NHS does lot of good but I'm so upset with extra long waits has messing this up more than it need be. Then taking only cheaper options to just yank out every tooth with possibility of an issue. Then add the insensitive questions and accusations like im bad mother and i dont know if im more upset for him or angry. Just had enough for today....and in general. All my partners family and much of this community assume I'm a junkie or bad mother just because I'm white and not of the same religion. Being told by mums at school oh we didn't think white people were clean or cooked and all other BS iv heard. This is going to add fuel to the insults and accusations.
Anyone have any experience or advice with no enamel on baby teeth Don't want to just agree pull 5. 3 are so minor affected and could be filled, coated, varnished capped etc and last few years to give him time to at least understand whats happening to him and why he is in pain and all his teeth have been ripped out .....unless they mess us around another 12month+ waiting lists and it messes up extra again waiting for them.

Mine had hypoplastic enamel (chalky teeth) on his back molars. We were incredibly careful to make sure he didn't drink juice or have fizzy drink or sweets for years and he didn't lose any. Adult teeth came through perfectly and he's still not had a filling.

It has had the fringe benefit of him not having a taste for sweet stuff. Still only drinks water or milk (incl tea) and he's mid teens.

I don't have any info, but really sorry that you were treated so badly by dentists. Try not to let it get you down, you're obviously trying your very best to get him the right treatment.

I'm so sorry to read of your ordeal. My son had two teeth like that. At first I was told they'd come through with enamel missing, then on a later appointment the same dentist told me it was because of breastfeeding and was quite unpleasant.

I used this on them and it seemed to stall any problems. Dabbed it on with my fingers, it's not a toothpaste
https://www.dentocare.co.uk/gc-tooth-mousse.html

I also gave calc fluor cell salts.

It was a horrible time. It felt like all I did was worry about teeth and every little thing my son ate for a time, but eventually I managed to relax and he kept his teeth until they fell out naturally. I never stopped breastfeeding and it certainly didn't make it any worse.

We found a great paediatric dentist who is just lovely and helped us take a watch and wait approach.

My son was similar his back teeth and 2 front. The dentist wanted to take 10 of his teeth out though only 1 was sore. He was 4 and I point blank refused to allow them to remove teeth just incase.

He was 3 at that time and still has 8 of the 10 bad teeth. 2 were pulled last year though we managed to get to 7 before they needed out. He got at treatment on his teeth that stops the decay then quarterly check ups and fluoride varnish.

I felt it was madness to not try to save the teeth that could be saved. I was told he would need them all out shortly and to let them know when I was ready to have them removed. He's almost 8 now and has 8 adult teeth with no issues.

I wouldn't say I'd advise you not to have them out but I would ask them what your other options are. It was presented to me as the only option until I refused then they came up with alternative treatment (that's probably cost more).

Just wanted to say, I had my top four and bottom four teeth removed at 2. Mam says “they just came out weird” and was furious if anybody implied she didn’t care for me well! I fortunately wasn’t teased and looked very cute with my gappy smile!

But anyway, I’m now 33 and I have perfect straight, white teeth, no fillings or any concerns (touch wood). I honestly get so many compliments on my teeth!

I know this doesn’t really help you but thought it would be a comfort that I now look on that time with such fondness and have great pride in my teeth! I hope it works out for you, hold your head high amongst the difficult people!

I had this as a child and had 8 teeth out in one sitting and then another 6. I don’t know the details as I was young I just know that the all broke and kind of shattered into bits.

I now have a full set of adult teeth with no complications, they’re a bit wonky but no one in my family has straight teeth.

I was bullied in secondary school for the wonky adult teeth but never a word said for my rotten or missing teeth as a child!

Cell salts can help with teeth and easy for a child to take. I take them myself and not harmful.

My daughter had some teeth affected by hyperplasia - four adult teeth were removed and the two front teeth were saved with extensive filling. We were told it was possibly caused by antibiotics that she had for ear infections at a crucial time the teeth would have been erupting?

I hate dentists. The constant implication that any problem is caused by not brushing and eating sweets all the time

Both my children have this - it affects their adult teeth coming through, which has really upset me.

They're being referred to a dental hospital. We work had at toothbrushing. Their father gives them sugary drinks far too often 😡'as a treat' but they really can't have them. I hope that they can get cosmetic treatment once they're grown, but just really sad. It might have been down to antibiotics or just genetics. I brushed their baby teeth so carefully, following all the advice.

Don't lose hard, OP - the adult teeth might be okay. And it's nothing you've done.

My dd has the same, there is a good Facebook group where you can get support. Be mindful there is an 'avoid fluoride' mindset from some posters which I think is harmful, but overall there are very good pieces of advice about best strategies.

Many have adult teeth which are fine. Unfortunately my dd's adult teeth came through pitted too. She's had fissure sealants in her back molars to protect them (all white!) and we are trying our best to keep her front teeth going until she can have implants, but that will be late teens, so we've got a long way to go.

I've always found thinking that she could have fallen on a step and knocked them all out, so at least you have a starting point.

And you should complain about the dentists. This is usually caused by antibiotics during pregnancy or labour or by illness in pregnancy. You've done nothing wrong.

I’m so sorry you’ve been made to feel so awful about something you clearly have tried to resolve as best you can! My youngest had very odd lateral incisors top and bottom, discolored different whites, seemed to take on stains and just looked rotten and awful. I remember the dentist saying it’s just because he was eating too much fruit. I was saying but how can it only be affecting only four teeth disproportionately? Anyway big teeth are through now and he’s my only child that doesn’t need braces. Result!

One of mine had this and I had similar from the dentist, who said it was due to breastfeeding. I saw someone else who said it could have been stress during pregnancy. Either way, I know it was nothing I could have done differently, although I felt awfully guilty.

None removed, we just watched and waited and their adult teeth are absolutely fine, so try not to worry too much, take it as it comes. You know you're doing your best, that's all that matters.

I personally would go for another opinion if you can afford

best tip I heard from pediatric dentist is to never wash off toothpaste in the night and never have water afterwards ; gets the toothpaste to work all night and makes teeth stronger . Perhaps you could try this with the GC mousse that was suggested above

good luck

I've come across so many unpleasant, judgemental dentists in my time, mainly with my dc. Stand your ground. You know you're doing your best for your dc. If you feel you're being pressured into a course of treatment you're not happy with, then ask for a second opinion.

The problem is your child is going to need a general anaesthetic to remove the teeth . They want to make as sure as possible that the general anaesthetic will not have to be repeated.
The problem is the teeth that don't look too bad to you will need to last them until they are 11 or 12 , so possibly another 10 years. The nerves in baby teeth are very large and if you can see decay/missing enamel now it is likely that the nerve is already compromised.
stainless steel crowns are an excellent way of preserving the very back teeth , it is gold standard treatment but it can only be done on teeth that are not too badly damaged.
For this reason it is standard practice to remove any dubious teeth all at once to remove the likelyhood of repeat general anaesthetics. An older child close to the age when the teeth might normally be lost you might give the benefit of the doubt , but in a two year old you will clear out anything that will not last 10 years or so for back teeth.

Thanks for all replies and support. Feel less alone. Iv had a cuddle with him and a sneaky cry. Will re read to go and buy suggested cell salts? ( need to check that brains gone lol) and foam toothpaste. Will even check out the support group. Got another appointment in 3 months and hopefully will see someone new if not will ask for a 2nd opinion.
Will be making a complaint and suggestion about the bad breastfeeding advice. Iv found it contradicts nhs and government guidelines ( and she was the head dentist on duty at the teaching hospital for children). Really had been beating myself up and thinking what if I'd bottle fed and alsorts. Still not like I could of stopped at 4 months old and they were just as badly damaged then.
Going to at least give it a try to keep them or as many as possible until. his back teeth are through and hes able to understand a little more what's happening. He is very clingy around stangers as is. Will be velcro after.
It's silly to go through anaesthetic and pain to find back ones also arnt right and need pulling or working on under anaesthetic. Especially if they are telling me they arnt so willing to give his minor affect teeth a chance just incase.

See how it goes. Probably won't seem just as bad tomorrow morning. Way worse things happening. Just one of those days upset and then hormones get you too. thanks everyone

Just wanted to send empathy. My daughter had hyperplastic enamel on her back teeth and the (luckily wonderful) specialist NHS pediatric dentist (were living in London at the time, so this service was available) put metal caps on her back teeth. They assured me that the hyperplastic enamel was just one of those things. Still, I felt pretty awful about those metal caps, even though they were just on the back teeth.

Now she's 14 and all her baby teeth are gone, and her enamel is just fine.

This. I know children who are lax brushes eat sweets etc and have never has a cavity. Sometimes it is just genetics. I am so sorry you have been treated this way. You clearly are proactively doing the best for your children

My child has this on 3-4 on his adult teeth and I felt very similar to you but my dentist said it would have happened during pregnancy and it wasn’t a matter of poor diet/toothbrushing. He’s really worried about having them out though and I wish I had been told about it earlier as it was clear there was a problem as soon as they came though.

Is yours in any pain from his teeth? I know they aren’t keen to do repeat general anaesthetic but if they can leave the ones that help them form sounds till he’s older that would help with speech. I’m really sorry that you’ve had to wait so long and been treated so badly by the dentists.

There is a good Facebook group for paediatric enamel hypoplasia.

NHS is rubbish for this. There is a private paeds dental practice in London called Toothbeary that has a great reputation for helping children with enamel hypoplasia.

It's horrible when it's your child - everyone thinks it's your fault. Are you still breastfeeding at night? This is fine for most children, but for children with hypoplasia it might be best to stop.

Can you link the FB page please. I've looked and there are a few of them. My DD has this with her adult teeth. Her baby teeth were fine, adult teeth coming through now and really not great. She also has missing teeth that my dentist thinks just haven't formed. Kids are pointing it out at school. I feel sad for her.

Coeliac disease can cause dental enamel disorders so this could be worth considering. My DD had six teeth removed at 11 because of this, before having braces fitted. She was diagnosed coeliac at 17 and her wisdom teeth are coming through with no enamel. She's now 22. Just a thought.

Fwiw I think the psychological impact is far worse than the physical. I've always been very positive and not really mention my dds teeth. We just insist on good hygiene and we restrict fruit, fruit juices and sweets but in a very low key way, we don't go "you can't have that because of your teeth" we just say we need to eat a balanced diet for general health.

is it Amelogenesis Imperfecta? It’s rare but it could explain all the teeth erupting like this.