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Original poster

White patches on teeth of breastfeeding toddler

15 replies

Walnutshell · 18/02/2008 18:52

Help. Have just today noticed what seem to be white patches on DS's teeth. He is 2yo and has been vomiting over the last 36 hours although this has now ceased (gastroenteritis)and at first I thought perhaps it was some temporary effect from this. Have been searching the internet and coming across worrying information about fluorosis. He is still b'f-ing, and can be up to 5 or 6 times in a 24-hour cycle. Should I be worried? Is this permanent or could it be something else? Will phone dentist tomorrow of course.

OP posts:

luciemule · 19/02/2008 16:17

I'd be interested to know what you find out. My DS (just turned 3) has had white patches on his upper canine teeth(to my knowledge)since his teeth came through.

It looks like a white build up (not plaque) marbled over the tooth and worried me so I asked the dentist the other week.

She said it could have been due to medicine I took whilst pregnant, like antibiotics. She didn't offer any other info or advice.

Original poster

Walnutshell · 19/02/2008 22:25

Well, ds is not as ill today, although v lethargic, and I looked at his teeth and they seem to have improved (how can this be?!). I am going to wait until dh is home tomorrow to see what he thinks. I wonder if the sickness had something to do with it, but I can't believe a tooth (teeth) can change dramatically so suspect I will still be phoning the dentist.

Lucie, did you take meds while pg? Do you think it's worth asking your dentist for more information? Like, is it permanent/reversible/worth monitoring?

Thanks for posting.

OP posts:

littlelapin · 19/02/2008 22:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NaughtyNigel · 19/02/2008 22:30

DD1 has these on her bottom teeth (permenent ones)
the dentist told me it was something to do with me having lots of viruses when i was pregnant. yet another thing to blame on myself then!

Original poster

Walnutshell · 19/02/2008 22:44

Oh, thanks guys. I am so worried about dental problems, can't bear ds to have them. (He must have the Perfect Amercian Smile...)

LL - are dh's v noticeable? It's weird but ds's were much more apparent when he was ill yesterday (than recovering today)..

OP posts:

luciemule · 19/02/2008 22:52

I googled Fluorosis and it said that too much fluoride can be the cause in toddlers and children - often from fluoride drops or from swallowing the toothpaste instead of spitting it out (whoops, my DS is always swallowing it but is low fluoride so I'm not so sure it's that).

Have to say, my mum gave me fluoride drops and my teeth are fine.

Yes Walnutshell - I did have antibiotics during pregnancy for infected eczema and an ear infection.

On the fluorosis website, the dentist said that abrasion treatment was effective - sounds harsh to me (someone's who hasn't even got a filling!!!)

luciemule · 19/02/2008 22:53

Oh, come to think of it, I had antiobiotics during labour for Strep B - could it have been that too?

jasper · 19/02/2008 23:55

Please describe the patches in more detail.

Whish teeth/surfaces are involved?
Have you had a right good scrub at them.?

Only tetracycline taken when teeth are actively developing ( which includes while baby in womb) are harmful and this has been knows for years so most unlikely nowadays.

jasperc163 · 20/02/2008 07:49

My DD (2.4) also has this on top 2 incisors (bottom half of tooth). I worry that it could be something do to with calcium deficiency (she is dairy intolerant) though supplement to a degree. She doesnt yet spit out the toothpaste (cant quite do it yet) but it is the low flouride variety).
If it was decay starting would it not be nearer the gum?

luciemule · 20/02/2008 10:53

Hmmm - sounds the same jasperc - it's not over all of the incisor teeth, just the top part of DS's mostly. I guess if it's only 2 teeth, it's not that bad or it would be on others too?

Highlander · 20/02/2008 11:05

DS2 has this. My sister says metabolic events in pregnancy are thought to be a culprit e.g. if you have a cold

luciemule · 20/02/2008 11:11

Hoping that's it then - getting DS to stop swallowing toothpaste is impossible!

greeneyedgirl · 20/02/2008 13:53

DD had this from when her teeth first came through and I was VERY alarmed...even had a dentist look at her. She is now 3 and the patches have disappeared completely.

Original poster

Walnutshell · 20/02/2008 15:43

Hi Jasper - have just looked at his teeth and from a normal speaking distance you would think they were rather white (too white??) but close up I can see very faint, pale brownish streaks. Mostly the front top two, slightly on the surrounding teeth. Was worse after he'd had a couple of days being sick and at that stage I did give them a good scrub - and started worrying.

thanks all for posting. reassuring.

OP posts:

johnworf · 20/09/2010 21:10

I was prescribed Tetracycline when I was pregnant with my DS#1. I was 8 months pregnant when I took them (not knowing the side effects). Consequently, he has the white mottling on his teeth. He has had them on both sets; baby and adult. He's 21 now and not bothered by them but when I spoke to my dentist about them he said told me it can be genetic or from other mediation, trauma in pregnancy or the results of a virus.

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