my dd's teeth are decayed and I am so worried.

[chocolateicecream]

I have come back from taking my dd to a dentist appointment today and feel completely fed up.

My dd is 6 and has horrible teeth that are covered in black spots. She has already had to have one tooth removed because it was significantly decayed, resulting in several painful abscesses. Another two teeth are rotting and she currently has an abscess on the surrounding gum.

Every time we visit the dentist we are in and out in five minuets. The first thing that she said to me today was 'so how is the sugar going?'.
I quizzed her about the state of my dd's teeth. The dentist is convinced that her decay is down to too much sugar in her diet. She advised me that my dd should not go any less than three hours between eating (so how does this work in pre-schools and schools where children receive snacks and there are no opportunities for them to brush their teeth).

The dentist asked if my dd was bottle fed, assuming that this was a possible cause of her decay. I explained that she has never had a bottle, and has only ever drank from a proper cup. The dentist then told me that breast milk is very sugary and this may have been the problem. The dentist then said that from birth babies should not go less than three hours between feeds. I did dispute this and her comeback was that she herself had always done this and that her children's teeth have no decay. If she thinks that I am responsible for allowing my child's teeth to rot then why has she never made attempts to refer me to the dental hygienist? I asked her why my dd's teeth are so bad when I know other children with nice teeth who's parents were far less strict over their dental health. She just answered 'It's caused by diet and bacteria build up'.

I have always made a huge effort to care for my dd's teeth. She was not allowed sweets until quite recently and still does not eat that many. Her teeth are brushed three times a day and she has a healthy diet (I am aware that sugar is in so many things). I know other mums who have given their children sugary drinks, frequent sweet/snacks etc. and their teeth are fine.

What I want to know is why are my dd's teeth so susceptible to tooth decay? Yes I know that bacteria damages teeth, maybe my dd's teeth cope less with bacterial exposure? I did have hyperemisis through my whole pregnancy, I often wonder if this has had an impact on her teeth. I am so worried because some of her adult teeth have erupted and that there is risk of damage to these teeth :( .

Can anyone else relate to this, or shed any light on this one??

Many thanks

Oh I do get confused with all these names.

Another dentist here. I was under the impression that whilst breastfeeding alone does not cause dental decay once weaning starts it can cause decay . So if you daughter was bf until 5 this may have contributed to her decay.

She may have hypoplasia (defective surfaces) of her teeth related to your hyperemesis but this should have been picked up at check ups.

I agree with the other advice you've had. Concentrate on preventing further decay by looking at her pattern of eating. Snacking and grazing on foods containg sugars (this can be fruit based, milk based or processed sugars) increases the chance of decay.

Everyone has differing susceptibility to decay depending on the bacteria they have in their mouths. We usually do inherit these from a parent (we are born with none) but what you can control is what you allow her to eat and drink and how often she has sugar contain foods.

When we eat something containing a sugar acid is produced by the bacteria in our mouths. The mouth remains acidic for 2 hours. So the teeth are being dissolved for 2 hours (this is essentially what decay is) then a fruit snack 2 hours later...glass of milk 2 hours after that, yoghurt 2 hours later...raisins 2 hours later the mouth is under attack for all that time.

I'm having exactly the same problem with my 5 year old daughter, permanent molars starting to erupt and bottom two teeth coming through. So I am terrified of the same happening to those, as to her baby teeth. The dentist thinks I am some kind of delinquent mother too - she is on for her 2nd & 3rd filling now. Gave me a lecture on how I really should do something about it, and her diet must be appalling otherwise she would have no fillings. Makes me mad as she doesn't have fizzy drinks, I don't buy her sweets or chocolate bars (bake once a week), she doesn't even have lots of raisins. I only see the dentist every 5 years or so, and I have no fillings, but my husband has truly crap teeth. We have the same diet ...... I am the worst at brushing my teeth, and only got them cleaned by the dentist for the first time aged 35! Makes no sense to me at all.

I actually think that they have emerged both times after she has been ill for a week or so, and has been taking french equivalent of Calpol. The first time she saw the dentist her teeth were fine. Fillings started after we moved to France - when incidentally she was brushing her teeth three times a day.

I thought milk was alkaline - but the sugars in milk are presumably acidic. I also thought I should increase her calcium intake to help with recalcification of the enamel. What about saliva - and the thing that chewing gum (sugar free) helps reduce cavities? What foods are really alkaline?

What can we do to try to strengthen the enamel in the permanent teeth which are coming through?

Ohmygosh it's not about alkaline foods it's the sugar things contain that the bacteria in the mouth convert to acid.
You can help the teeth remineralise with a fluoride toothpaste. Your daughter should be using one with 1400ppm of fluoride (It is written on the tube)
Sugar free chewing gum is good after meals as it encourages saliva production which is protective. Not sure how good a 5 year old will be with it. My 4 year old just swallows it.
Does your daughter have a lot of fruit? One of my nurses' sons got decay as he grazed on fruit and would just keep going to the fruit bowl. I am really conscious that my son would help himself to fruit all day if I let him. I try to get him to have savoury snacks such as crackers instead of fruit all the time.
You can get sugar frree versions of Calpol but they would be unlikely to cause decay so rapidly. It's usually more of an issue when children are on long term medication.
You could ask for the adult teeth to be fissure sealed once they're erupted it protects the biting surface from decay.

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/10/051007092923.htm