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General health

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Original poster

Anyone else got a child with terrible teeth?

27 replies

FourArms · 05/07/2008 21:46

DS2 has got really awful holes in his teeth. I've taken him to the dentist 3 times now as they've got steadily worse. I first noticed when he was about 18m old, when there was just 1 tiny hole. Within a week there were 3. Now his back top two teeth are more hole than tooth, the next ones along are going the same way, and I can see small holes forming on lots of his other teeth.

The dentist has said each time that this is unfortunate, but that there isn't anything that can be done at this age (he was 2 last week). I haven't seen the dentist for about 4 or 5 months now, but am wondering if I should go again. It just seems so awful to be doing nothing.

No idea about the cause. DH and I have good teeth, as does DS1. DS2 had very severe reflux (vomiting 20+ times per day until over 12m old), and also had strong antibiotics after birth (Gp B Strep issues). He's also an avid breastfeeder, and didn't take any solids until over 1 year old (due to the reflux), and still feeds a lot now. We do brush his teeth with regular kids toothpaste twice a day, but not after every milk feed. I don't know if this would help, or if the damage has already been done?

Would be interested to hear from anybody else with a similar problem.

OP posts:

thisisyesterday · 05/07/2008 21:51

I Have awful teeth and my dentist did tell my mum it was because of having lots and lots of antibiotics when i was little.
It sounds (and I am by no means an expert) that the combination of antib's and the vomiting could have weakened the enamel and caused the problems.
I would assume that once his adult teeth come throguh they'd be fine. but, as I say, I am certainly not an expert on this.

has your dentist said anything other than that there is nothing to be done? (ie, will adult teeth be affected?)
I know you can get something called a fissure seal (i think) which is a kind of coating to help prevent decay and stuff. but perhaps ds2 is too little for this?

thisisyesterday · 05/07/2008 21:51

btw, i wouldn't worry about the breastfeeding. despite claims to the contrary breastmilk hsa been proven not to cause tooth decay. will try and find some links for you

Original poster

FourArms · 05/07/2008 21:55

Thanks TIY. She's said that his adult teeth should be fine, but it seems a long time until then at the moment! He's got one small hole at the rear of one of his front teeth now, which feels like the last straw. The dentist has said they can fill the holes when he's a bit older and more co-operative. He'll barely open his mouth for her at the moment. Just wondered if they could paint him some new enamel on somehow.....

OP posts:

thisisyesterday · 05/07/2008 21:55

there is a thread here with some good info

thisisyesterday · 05/07/2008 21:55

there is a thread here with some good info

southeastastra · 05/07/2008 21:56

pay for a private consultation they're usually about only a fiver

thisisyesterday · 05/07/2008 21:56

actually, that's the wrtong thread, hang on i've lost the one I wanted to post now lol.

thisisyesterday · 05/07/2008 21:58

actually great article from LLL here

admylin · 05/07/2008 21:59

I have one with bad teeth. Ds is now 10 and I'm so worried about his adult teeth going the same way. I'm constantly at him to clean his teeth. Worst part is, he only ever drinks water (so no bad fruit juices or sugary drinks) and he doesn't eat half as many sweets as his sister who has perfect teeth and she drinks apple juice alot too so it's real bad luck for ds. The dentsist told us to use a gel with fluroid in once a week (we're in Germany but it's Elmex gel) hope it helps. She also sealed his big teeth at the back but your ds would be too small I'd think.

thisisyesterday · 05/07/2008 21:59

and toothpastes with Xylitol in can help stabilise damaged teeth too apparently

Original poster

FourArms · 05/07/2008 21:59

Really SEA? I don't know if I could just ask to see another dentish in the practise, or if I have to see my one. Might ask how it works when I ring up.

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Original poster

FourArms · 05/07/2008 22:00

Thanks for that TIY and admylin. Will look at the thread and the Elmex gel.

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Wassup · 05/07/2008 22:03

I have one with bad teeth (who also had reflux as a child). The enamel isn't formed properly, some of her adult teeth have come through very stained and yellow and she's already had to have a filling.

The other child has perfect white teeth even though they were eat and drink virtually the same stuff.

What pissed me off was the dentist's attitude to dd (and we've been to more than one and they've said the same things) as they 'accused' her of having a bad diet which she doesn't have at all, she just seems to have very poor teeth poor child.

Hadn't heard of that gel.

southeastastra · 05/07/2008 22:04

i just picked one out of the phone book, i really wanted a second opinion and was prepared to pay.

was surprised it was so cheap and it resulted in my son having some teeth out that the nhs dentist didn't seem bothered about.

Original poster

FourArms · 05/07/2008 22:05

The LLL article makes a lot of sense. I will definitely take him back and ask about using a different type of toothpaste etc.

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Psychomum5 · 05/07/2008 22:06

my boys have bad teeth too.......apparently stems from the drugs they gave me at 28wks pragnant to stop my prem labours (had car accident at 28wks with DS1 and then my womb had scarring from that and it triggered issues with DS2).....that is when the teeth are forming and so anything they can give then can cause probs.

also early anti-b's.

plus they both had severe reflux and had meds for that too!!!

feels so awful tho taking them for treatment and the judging you get from the receptionist when you have to fill out all the NHS forms for fillings on tiny's

DS1 had lots of baby teeth out in the end, and is now going to having a fixed brace fitted in 6mths.....he is only 8! still, he will have good teeth in the end, and his adult teeth are coming thro without holes so far

Original poster

FourArms · 05/07/2008 22:07

That's really sad Wassup. DS2's teeth just look completely different to DS1's in every way. They seem so small thin and delicate whereas DS1's have always looked very healthy.

I will try and see a different dentist in the practise first, then try a different practise.

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kiskidee · 05/07/2008 22:12

ask your dentist for an urgent referral to a paediatric dentist. it sounds exactly like what my dentist has said and done about dd's teeth. nothing.

one avenue to approach this from is to enquire if it is possible to semi sedate your son so that they can have a good look at what is going on inside his mouth at the moment. Bring up that since they can seal adult teeth, can't they seal his baby teeth so that the decay can be brought under control.

all this advice btw is hypothetical. i have a dd with bad teeth and no one to ask advice from. I wish I had thought of these scenarios before she had teeth removed. TBH some of the removal was mandatory anyway as her 4 top incisors had shattered to bits at around 18 mos and they had to be removed anyway. the premolars that have also suffered decay had to be removed at the same time. At least 2 of these had also started to break up, making decay impossible to prevent by brushing and controlling sugary intake.

I will be making the similar enquiries i have suggested you wrt trying to preserve what teeth are left in her mouth. She only got them removed on Wednesday gone.

Original poster

FourArms · 05/07/2008 22:13

I took some strong anti-b's at that stage too as I had a bad spot in my groin which got infected. He just seems to have had so many of the problems which are risk factors for childhood caries. Also, he has kidney problems which require daily antibiotics, which we tried to give him for a few months (when we gave up due to the reflux - he was just being sick all the time after we'd given him them).

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Wassup · 05/07/2008 22:13

yes, I've been thinking of doing that. It's so expensive dental work (we have no NHS ones near here) but I do want to try and give her teeth a fighting chance!

kiskidee · 05/07/2008 22:16

oh, yeah, how could i forget that everyone in the NHS seems to think that you must be feeding your child crap for her mouth to be in the state is is in. they hear you talk about what is happening but they don't listen.

Original poster

FourArms · 05/07/2008 22:17

How old is she now kiskidee?

I think DS2's top back teeth are just about gone now. They look like they're just erupting, but in fact, they've all rotted away. The holes have just joined up gradually. This is all in under 6 months.

Do you think I should be restricting all sugar intake, or would it not do any good if the damage is within the teeth? The dentist said his enamel had been damaged by the reflux, so his teeth were open to attach. I didn't feel at all confident with her examination or explanations at all, but when I posted on here after my first consultation, I felt like I was overreacting a bit. It's also quite embarrassing to talk about as I feel it's my fault somehow.

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FairyMum · 05/07/2008 22:19

Yes, all my children are born without enamel on many of their teeth. Awful and I am forever called precious for trying to avoid them eating too much sweets. Its a nightmare.

Wassup · 05/07/2008 22:19

I know how you feel fourarms.

I asked about the sealing as it wasn't mentioned with dd and I was surprised because one of her friends at school has teeth like this and has had all sorts of treatment that seems to have helped. I think it so depends on the dentist, I really do.

kiskidee · 05/07/2008 22:22

she is 3.

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