Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Children's health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Tooth decay in 7yo - mortified!!!

47 replies

SnowyCactus · 23/08/2021 18:29

My 7yo dd has been complaining of sensitivity/toothache and I've had a look today and her canine has basically a third of it missing and it's black underneath. I am absolutely mortified!

I will admit that she eats too many sweet things and isn't thorough enough with brushing, and it's 100% my fault. I am so disappointed with myself and feel like I've let her down massively.

I'm going to ring the dentist tomorrow and get her an appointment as she hasn't been seen for well over a year due to covid.

She has many issues with anxiety and we have to do a lot of talking through different situations. Can anyone tell me what the dentist will likely do? Will they have to remove it? I can't imagine it can be filled at all. She's going to be terrified and I'm so upset about it (obviously I haven't let her see me upset and I'm reassuring her!).

If anyone can give me an insight in to what might happen I'll be most grateful.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Lougle · 23/08/2021 19:55

Honestly, people like to tell you it's all about dental hygiene but the reality is that all teeth are not equal. Some people can get away with a terrible diet and poor dental hygiene and other people need major work with even a little sugar in their diet.

It's not great that she's in a state but don't be so hard on yourself. DD3 cracked one of her teeth in half and I was horrified, but the dentist explained that the adult tooth was coming through slightly behind the baby tooth, so the baby tooth had been partially eroded and crumbled rather than just falling out.

I'm sure the dentist will be able to help and at least it's a baby tooth, so you won't have the same issue with adult teeth because you'll be monitoring her.

BewareTheBeardedDragon · 23/08/2021 20:06

My dc1 had to have a baby tooth removed at the same age and he said it didn't hurt at all, that the worrying beforehand was much worse. Baby teeth are much easier to get out because they have less deep and less tenacious roots and also as the new tooth grows beneath the baby roots gradually dissolve (or wear away in some manner) which is why they end up wobbling out.
Based on my experiences with a very nervous ds vs the actual removal id say if you could prepare her to be brave and have it whipped out at the first appointment it will save her much unnecessary worry and anxiety.

Notaroadrunner · 23/08/2021 20:15

At 7 I was still brushing Ds teeth. The hygienist has since shown him how to do it with an electric toothbrush. Young kids don't always have the dexterity to clean their own teeth so you should help her brush and then get the dentist to go through cleaning with her. I imagine they'll pull the tooth and offer fissure seals for the rest of them to prevent any more cavities.

Whatever you do don't let her see that you're bothered by it. Otherwise she won't want to go to the dentist. Don't talk about pulling it out - just wait to see what the dentist says.

AlohaMolly · 23/08/2021 20:25

I had to take DS5 for a blood test recently and he’s a worrier too. I showed him some videos on YouTube and I talked it through with him loads, right from the beginning like where the surgery is, that the receptionist might wear a mask etc. On the day, he walked right in, said ‘hi I’m X and I’m here for a blood test’ sat on the bed and watched the needle go inN

Are you able to talk her through it? Find some videos of children at dentists, maybe even some of them in PPE?

Original poster

SnowyCactus · 23/08/2021 20:57

Thanks everyone, you've made me feel so much better about this and how to approach it.

We've had a big conversation about brushing teeth really well and cutting down on sugar/snacks (going to start doing the drink of water after food too so thank you to the person who suggested that!). I'm going to look in to getting her a good electric toothbrush too as me and DH could do with new ones anyway.

Thanks again everyone for being so nice. Hopefully we won't have too long of a wait to see the dentist.

OP posts:

SFCA · 23/08/2021 20:58

I am really surprised how many posters have children with little enamel on their teeth! Our son was a very poorly baby and all his baby teeth have come through yellow / brown. We are hoping that his adult teeth will be better but have never seen another child with the same. Fortunately we have managed to keep them all up until now but seen by dentist frequently. We have been on the receiving end of a lot of judgemental comments including by a GP who asked if we ever brushed his teeth 😱

Hope your daughter feels better soon OP and the appointment goes ok

TartanJumper · 23/08/2021 20:58

Don't blame yourself- teeth are partly down to genes.
I neglected mine most of my adult life (depression), and am still to have a single filling. Meanwhile my friend- who brushes hers at least twice daily, never eats sugar etc- has had loads!

They most likely won't remove it at that appointment. They will have a good look at all her teeth and let you know what they need to do.

Kitkat151 · 23/08/2021 21:03

Twice daily brushing....you do it first....Adult fluoride toothpaste ....don’t wet the toothbrush first...spit but don’t rinse....nothing to eat or drink. After teeth brushed at night....it’s a wake up call...but it’s her baby tooth....it’s not the end of the world...you are on it now....don’t beat yourself up

Original poster

SnowyCactus · 23/08/2021 21:19

@TartanJumper

Don't blame yourself- teeth are partly down to genes. I neglected mine most of my adult life (depression), and am still to have a single filling. Meanwhile my friend- who brushes hers at least twice daily, never eats sugar etc- has had loads!

They most likely won't remove it at that appointment. They will have a good look at all her teeth and let you know what they need to do.

Yes I'm exactly like this! Always taken really good care of my teeth and have had problems since being a child. I've had so many fillings, broken molars etc, and had to have a crown and more fillings last year too. My DH has always had perfect teeth with minimal effort

OP posts:

Original poster

SnowyCactus · 23/08/2021 21:20

@Kitkat151

Thank you, I've always wet the tooth brush first and didn't know you aren't supposed to! She uses 'kids' toothpaste as I didn't realise she can just use adult ones. Will rectify that too!

OP posts:

moita · 23/08/2021 22:18

Honestly OP. I had to have 4 teeth removed as a child. I barely remember it and I'm now 35 with good teeth (never had a filling). Yes get to to brush properly and introduc flossing when you can but don't beat yourself up

moita · 23/08/2021 22:19

Sorry for spelling mistakes: feeding my baby and typing!

Original poster

SnowyCactus · 25/08/2021 18:55

Hi everyone, just wanted to thank everyone again for the reassurance. We were seen today at 2:30 (I had to stop myself from making the joke!!), and the dentist managed to fill it. It looked half broken off to me but it must not have been. He filled a couple of other spots too on other baby teeth. They were really nice and advised me to cut down on any snacks between meals. I'm so glad they didn't have to remove anything!!

OP posts:

Mrsmorton · 26/08/2021 00:14

So what changes do you plan on making OP?

Original poster

SnowyCactus · 26/08/2021 13:16

@Mrsmorton

So what changes do you plan on making OP?

Definitely cutting down on sugar and snacks between meals I think it the biggest change we need to make. I've bought her a decent electric toothbrush which has a timer etc on it, and swapping to adult toothpaste, and she's been drinking a glass of water after meals (and brushing before breakfast rather than after!). I've found this thread really helpful to identify what we need to do so thanks again to everyone who has given advice

OP posts:

Mrsmorton · 26/08/2021 14:22

Sounds great. Have a google of the Stephan curve, there are some good resources that make it all make sense.

Solasum · 26/08/2021 14:28

@SFCA did your son have lots of antibiotics as a baby? If so that can affect tooth colour

DrMadelineMaxwell · 26/08/2021 14:45

Our dentist always makes a point of talking to my children, not about sweets, but about the need to really limit fruit juice and fizzy drinks, but to drink water or milk instead.

FreeBritnee · 26/08/2021 14:54

I’m still cleaning my children’s teeth and my eldest is eight. There’s no way I’d trust him to clean his own teeth. Plus no sweets, no pop. Please either take over the cleaning of your child’s teeth or stand there with them while they do it. Teeth are so precious.

Hope it gets sorted quickly and painlessly 🤞

Newmummyinlockdown · 26/08/2021 15:06

Don’t beat yourself up OP. Unfortunately there isn’t much national health information regarding decay in children’s teeth, and it can happen very easily. What with the demands of children and pressures of life, sometimes these things happen. Just learn from it for when her adult teeth come through.

It would be very unusual to have a single decayed canine and no decay in other teeth. She is either likely to have other decayed teeth, or the canine had a developmental defect such as hypoplasia (also unusual if no other teeth affected).

Make sure your dentist takes x-rays (many NHS ones don’t for children, but they are essential in diagnosing interproximal decay in molars which is most common in children).

Drinking water after sugar won’t ‘wash away the sugar’ as it needs to be something that’s able to neutralise to acidic PH that causes decay. This includes milk, a piece of cheese, mouthwash etc.

If you can afford it, seeing a specific Paediatric dentist is an excellent way to help manage anxiety as they are specifically trained, and also have time to go at your daughters pace and make sure all decay is diagnosed and treated.

plantastic · 28/08/2021 17:45

DD1 had a dodgy first molar. We're not sure why- her diet is pretty low sugar. But she did have a brief period as a toddler when she refused to have her teeth brushed- we did do it twice a day but not for the whole 2 minutes as she was so distressed. Half of it pretty much disappeared. The dentist did shore it up a couple of times. None of her other teeth have any decay at all and the dentist said it might have been developmental.

Anyway, dentist said she could remove it (no sedation) or a referral for sedation and removal. While we were waiting she lost it anyway- all her baby teeth have come out pretty young. She was happy to watch and wait for a bit and see if it caused any trouble. A referral will take a while anyway.

Rugbymumof2 · 29/08/2021 22:05

DD1 had a tooth removed at 6 yrs old, not sure what happened as all her others were fine and have been ever since and she's almost 12 now, developed a hole which was filled then a few months later an abscess which after 3 lots of antibiotics wouldn't go so as it was a baby tooth the best option was to remove.
I had a canine removed not long after it came through as it was already black with the top missing, looked like a volcano, it was put down to the amount of antibiotics I had as a child which at that point contained a lot of sugar, how true that is I don't know.
I'd say generally teeth in my family aren't great, with my brother having next to no enamel, so there must be a genetic element to it.

Flip

1 2