Just noticed yellow plaque/tartar type thing on DS's teeth

[iwouldgoouttonight]

DS is three-and-a-half and I've just noticed behind his bottom front teeth there is a yellowy plaque/tartar type build up which doesn't come off when you brush it.

We tend to alternate between him brushing his teeth himself and us brushing them for him as he's not very thorough! Although even when we do it its a real struggle to get him to stay still for long enough - we've definitely never managed two minutes.

He's been going to the dentist with me since he first got teeth, but he's always refused to open his mouth and no amount of preparation, trying to make it fun, rewards, bribery, etc seem to make any difference. I'd like to ask the dentist what it is and whether there is anything we can do about it before it gets worse but I just can't think how we can ever get DS to sit and let the dentist look in his mouth, let alone touch him.

He's the same with having his hair cut or his feet measured for shoes - he absolutely hates being touched by people he doesn't know.

I'm just worried his teeth might get worse - if the plaque builds up won't it result in tooth decay?

Hi - we've had this with DD (8) and we have brushed her teeth really well ourselves from when she first got ehr teeth. Apparently you're supposed to brush for them until they're 7 - I know a lot of people might moan when I say that but their hand/eye co-ordination isn't fully developed until then.
In the case of our DD, I wondered whether it was the Movicol meds she was on since age 2 for constipation as I was told by a dentist once that meds in pregnancy can discolour/mark teeth.
You need to get the dentist to remove the plaque though as it is calcified plaque and you'll have trouble removing it yourself. We tried with a toothpick and DD went ballistic! If you leave calcified plaque, it can lead to gum disease though so it does need removing.....not sure what to say about getting your DS to open his mouth though. We used to use a toy who we pretended to brush with -so the toy would 'hold' the brush etc.

It sounds like it is calculus. This is hardened plaque & it happens over time when plaque is not being removed.

You will need to see a dentist to get it removed, as it will not come off with a brush.

You should still be doing all his brushing for him. He isn't dexterous enough to be able to manage the hard to reach areas, hence why the plaque has hardened.

Yes, plaque build up does result in caries (decay). Calculus build up can result in gum & bone loss.

luciemule, certain meds can discolour teeth, but they don't cause calculus. Not removing plaque does.

It can cause the calculus to become stained tho.

I understand what you're saying DNFT but I still don't understand how my DD got plaque in the first place when we have brushed extremely well for her since her first teeth arrived. Doesn't having teeth that are very tightly packed make it easier for plaque to stay? I'm 32 and have no fillings so it's defo not a poor brishing technique. I guess my DD does have snacks in the day but not whilst at school and more often than not, it's cheese. Anyway, sorry to hijack, dentist removed it a few weeks ago so hopefully DD won't get it again.

Thanks for your replies.

So... does anyone have any ideas how I could pursuade DS to let the dentist remove this from his teeth. Short of physically holding him down (which I'm sure would put him off the dentist forever!) I just can't see how we can do it. I really want to get it sorted out and then we will try to establish a much more thorough teeth cleaning routine where we brush them for him.

Not sure where you are but there are dentist who specialise in children and nervous patients. As I've never had any treatment, I would defo be thiking hypnotherapy if I ever needed a filling. I'm sure they wouldn't hypnotise kids but they might be better trained to deal with nervous kids.

we use disclosing tablets once a week or so - helps them see the bits they're missing

what do they taste like mimsum?

My ds (5) has this too. We do supervise his brushing and more often than not finish it off for him. I didn't realise what an issue it was tbh. My Mum told me that milk teeth are much softer and therefore prone to staining more easily. I'm worried now!

it's not staining though - it's plaque that's started to calcify and gets so hard that it's impossible to brush off.

iwouldgoouttonight, if he really won't co-operate with the dentist, sedation may be answer. I know that this is probably not what you want to do, but it is important that it is removed.

Disclosiing tabs taste minty. They will do nothing for calculus tho, but are a good tool for when it is removed to make sure ll the plaque is being removed.

As far as I am aware, milk teeth are no softer than adult teeth. As long as children have a good diet, good brushing etc, there is no reason for staining to occur through food sources. There are some children who have weaker teeth, but it isn't an overall thing.

They can be susceptible to staining from other sources, antibiotics etc.