Can antibiotic use cause bad teeth?

[hairymcleary]

DS (22 months) has grey looking front teeth and in the back of my mind, I think I may have heard that antibiotic use in childhood can cause bad teeth.
Unfortunately, DS has frequent chest infections (most likely caused by a chronic chest condition, exact one still to be diagnosed), so he's had lots of antibiotics from the age of 8 weeks (probably from birth really, as my waters were gone for over 24 hours before I went into established labour, so I was on IV antibiotics then).
Anyway, anyone know if he's destined to have manky nashers?

I don't know, but I do recall hearing that certain antibiotics in the early stages of pregnancy can cause marks on the babies teeth.

Think it may be an antibiotic called tetracycline that cause teeth staining. I think this is not prescribed in pregnancy cause it is well known it causes probs in the medical profession..could be wrong. Not sure if the antibiotics you would have had in labour could cause any probs..I had them too so will watch this thread with interest. A normal dentist could be your first port of call and take it form there...he would refer you to a paed dentist if it was necessary I would think. Hope you get it sorted.

I had antibiotics when my adult teeth were comming though, and it did cause damage, but I think that was due to direct contact.

My ds2 has a hole on his front tooth, well it's a dent really that the dentist said was most likely caused by me having antib's in pregnancy My waters broke at 22 weeks with him so I needed them.

My older two have lovely teeth and have no problems with them at all.

Tetracyclines can cause teeth staining which is why they are not ususally used in children or during pregnancy. It would be unusual for there to be any reason to use tetracyclines for most common infections as there aren't many things that they would be considered first line for. Could it be too much fluoride. Children who swallow lots of toothpaste, especially in areas when they put fluoride in the water can get severe tooth staining. Unfortunately, there isn't much to be done about it if this is the cause.

My DH has horrific teeth, that are beyond any kind of whitening programme. This is due to poor dental hygiene and drug use however childhood anti-biotics did the worst damage. I'm not sure which one it was, although I had assumed (maybe wrongly after reading other posts) that it would have been withdrawn from the market.

No, not withdrawn as we still need them for some conditions and the main problem is only cosmetic (not very helpful if you do get the damage), but all doctors should not be using them unless no alternative in pregnancy/young children

I have quite poor teeth and they are a little yellow. I was on anti-bs for much of my young childhood for chest infections of one kind or another (back in the 60s and early 70s). Always wondered if the 2 facts are related.

I had to have 2 different sorts in pregnancy and not penicillin as I'm allergic.

hi hairymcleary in answer to your question, it could be down to nerve damage in the teeth, can u remember if your DS had a fall possibly when much younger???? if teeth present in a greying colour it is usually caused because there has been severe trauma or a bad knock to the teeth and they start going grey as the nerve dies off in the tooth until eventually it will go almost black. does he complain of pain at all? OR has he had any swelling s in connection with these 2 teeth? go and see ur dentist first. i am a qualified dental nurse with 17 yrs experience let me know how u get on please