Live webchat with dentist Dr Anthony Zybutz, Monday 8 Sept, 1-2pm

[GeraldineMumsnet]

Hi, we've got Dr Anthony Zybutz coming in on Monday 8 Sept to talk all things teeth. So if you've got any concerns about your kids' oral health or want to know how to stop the rot in your own teeth, come and join in between 1pm and 2pm. Dr Zybutz, who is an experienced dentist with a practice in Harley St, has two children of his own, aged four and six, so is familiar with the challenge of ensuring children clean their teeth properly.

As always, if you can't make it on the day, please post your questions here in advance and we'll try to ensure as many as possible are answered.

[S1ur]

I have a question. Or maybe three.

Do children need to learn how to floss and at what age?

What is the deal with British vs American teeth? Is it a bit of a myth or down to decent dental plans? I have seen some pretty rank sets of gnashers on Jerry Springer.

That may have been more than three.

[bythepowerofgreyskull]

I have a question -
in your opinion is there a benefit to continuity of care with dentistry - or does it really not matter if you see a new dentist each time.

[Smamfa]

Perfect timing. My son gets persistant and nasty mouth ulcers whenever he uses grown-up toothpaste. He's now 8. I've heard that there is a direct connection between ulcers and sodium lauryl sulphate so I've tried to find him a toothpaste without this in, but the only ones he likes are the kiddie ones.

Is there really a connection or is it just coincidence? What brands can you recommend that don't have it in?

[S1ur]

Actually I have another question.

DO you think that Dental health services should be FREE?

And by that I mean publically funded and not privately owned and free at the point of delivery, much like the rest of the nhs.
The number of people who cannot find nhs dentists is unacceptably high and has increased recently with the introduction of new contracts, and it seems that more dental practices are choosing to go entirely private. Leaving major gaps in provision, the worst affected being the poorest.

[FlightAttendent]

I agree Slur.

I am a single mother and have needed a lot of work on my teeth - not cosmetically at all but acute/chronic problems.

I do receive benefit due to my situation so the costs are covered. If I worked I would not be able to have my teeth sorted out and this is I am ashamed to admit, a factor in my decision to stay at home rather than work.

I would not care if it was cosmetic but it is not, I would be in a lot of pain. Also it is too late for me to make a differrence with my oral hygiene etc as the damage was done years ago.

[werewabbit]

My 20 month old DS2 has yellow stains (plaque build up?)on his teeth. We brush them night and day and sometimes lunchtime and are pretty throrough, tho he has a knack of holding his lips really tight so getting to the front top and bottom is a struggle. He doesn't have juice/milk bottles to suck on but he does like raisins.

His doctor & dentist just says keep on brushing, but should we worry or do something more? Don't want him to have stumps for teeth at kindergarden...?

We brushed DS1 the same as a baby but his are fine.

[JoolsToo]

what are your thoughts on whitening? (not luminous white obviously!)

I'm getting on a bit and don't really want my teeth like the dear old late Queen Mums, ie resembling wood!

[DrAnthonyZybutz]

[bundle]

go on, flash us your gnashers

[natashap]

I was so busy brushing teeth that I didn't notice plaque build up behing the front 4 teeth. Now I am scared of taking her to dentist as I know I will get told off!
Huge guilt trip, teeth are so hard to do right. Anyone know how they get it off childrens teeth?

[RedFraggle]

My health visitors are now recommending that we use adult toothpaste on babies and toddlers teeth. I thought the increased fluoride in adult toothpaste was supposed to increase the risk of fluorosis in children. If this is still the case why are parents being advised not to use specialist children's toothpaste any more?

[fryalot]

can I just say

"I'VE GOT A DENTIST!!!!"

so I don't need you, but thanks all the same.

(I should point out at this stage that it has only taken five years, dozens of phone calls to NHS direct, and ringing round local dentists and seven months on a waiting list before we were finally seen... last week! )



My question (not that surprisingly) is what would you suggest that people who are in the situation that I was in the week before last do to try and find a dentist? Is there likely to be an increase in the numbers of dentists taking on patients in the near future?

[MickeyD]

My dentist says that I need my fillings removed and replaced. New ones will cost about £70-£120 per tooth on the NHS. I was a little shocked at this as it's never been mentioned before and now he says I have to have all my fillings replaced. (I have quite a few due to an overzealous dentist I had as a child)Any advice?
Also I've been told that I no longer need to take antibiotics before invasive dental treatment as advice has changed. Can you confirm this? I used to take them due to a heart condition.

[babyboo1and2]

hi

my 10 year old son had beautiful milk teeth but as his adult teeth are appearing they are much more yellow and also appear to be stained with white bits - when i questioned my dentist he said it might be fluorosis and that i must have added flouride to his diet when he was younger but i havent we are very careful with his diet (no fizz choc just a couple times a week ec) he brushes twice a day etc etc and he has no filings

i am starting to see these same stains on the back milk teeth of my 2 year old daughter

is this a family hereditry thing ? is there anything i can do to prevent this happening to my daughters adult teeth before they appear ? my son is becoming very self concious about his yellow teeth - would you recommend whitening?

thanks for your help

[pourmeanotherglass]

my daughters bottom front 2 milk teeth are not very wobbly yet, but the new ones have grown behind them to almost the same height. Is this normal? should she have the mik teeth taken out?

[FrazzledFairyFay]

My nearly 3 year old daughter has a cavity in one of her lower molars. I have always been really careful to brush her teeth twice a day, limit sweets, fruit juice, etc.

The dentist said she had 'weak enamel'. Is there anything I can do to stop her having more problems? Thank you.

[Tinkywinks]

Hi, I've got a couple of queries concerning my three year old son as there is absoloutely no way he would let a dentist get anywhere near him.

Just one of his upper teeth seems to be really stained yellow, as if there are food deposits on it, no matter how much I brush it - it's a bit strange and can't work out why. I was a bit undecided on the the fluoride/fluoride free toothpaste debate, ended up using fluroide free until recently. (Not sure if that's anything to do with it). I don't give him any sugar but everyday he has fruit and organix snacks - a lot of these are fruit based or sweetened with fruit and wondered how much impact this would have on his teeth as I recently heard that a dentist told a friend that eating too much fruit is bad for teeth.

Also, a question of curiousity more than anything else, with regards to looking after teeth, how much does it matter when it's the first set of teeth which are all going to fall out anyway? How much impact does it have on the 2nd lot?

Finally - sorry - at what age do normal routine check ups start with kids?

Thank you!

[MARGOsBeenPlayingWithMyNooNoo]

Fissure Sealants - I think they're good. My dentist sealed 6 unfilled teeth when I was about 13-14. I have only had 1 filling on these sealed teeth.

Should I get my childrens teeth sealed?

Should I do it once their 2nd teeth are through?

I, of course, think that good dental hygiene goes hand in hand with this.

Should we be flossing childrens teeth too?

[happychic]

My 14 month old daughter resists having her teeth cleaned. I am worried to see that her two front teeth are already looking stained already, but she clamps her mouth firmly shut and it is a real battle to clean them.

I try to make it as entertaining as possible (singing toothbrushing songs, getting dad to open his mouth and make brushing motions etc) but it is still a struggle. She doesn't drink friut juice, though she does have fruit - though not citrus which she dislikes, so I can only think that it is tomatoes that are staining her teeth (she loves spaghetti dishes).

Do you have any tips for getting toddlies to brush their teeth and at what point should they visit a dentist for the first time?

Many thanks.

[EachPeachPearMum]

Margo- my teeth were fissure sealed. When I changed dentists at 17, the new one ripped them all out, and filled with amalgam saying they'd all been done incorrectly
I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

I had NO fillings at all until then, I was devastated.
The only fillings I've had since were to replace the crappy amalgam ones as they don't last forever.

[DisasterArea]

1. what can i do about TMJ pain/clicking? have a bite raiser but take it out in my sleep. anything else i can try?

1. if a thumb sucker also has genetically sticky out front teeth will the NHS pay for braces? also if no sign of ever stopping sucking thumb would braces work anyway?

3.is flossing really necessary?

[Swedes]

Why do Geography teachers have hallitosis, more often than not?

[TinkerBellesMum]

During my last pregnancy I bashed my teeth together, crossing them over at the front gap (if that makes sense) and it's pushed my one front tooth back. Will it ever go back on it's own?

When I was a toddler I tripped over and caught my tooth on the arm of a chair, it went through my bottom lip and ended up facing the back of my mouth (I looked like I had a gap between my teeth). I think it's the same tooth, is it related and should the fact it eventually went back give me hope it will again?

[mummyc]

My 14 month old doesn't much like cleaning his teeth (we only try at night) and so most nights my or DP 'help' by gently cleaning them, which leads to screaming fits on his part. I'm worried we might be creating an issue making him hate cleaning his teeth / having them cleaned, my DP is more worried about his teeth rotting and thinks it's worth the struggle each night. Any recommendations?

The essence of my question is: how important is the level of cleanliness of teeth vs habit of him cleaning his teeth happily?

[Tippychick]

Question please and thanks as I will be traveliing at that time.

I've posted before about decay on my 2yo's teeth - she has discolouration around the gumline of all four top front teeth. Nothing on the molars or any other teeth.

My first dentist diagnosed it as baby bottle mouth and was very unhelpful so I transferred and she has now been seen twice by another dentist who has examined the teeth but is currently just monitoring them to make sure the damage does not increase. It does not seem to have changed in six months or more. This dentist suggests just regular rushing with a higher fluoride paste ( we moved to punch and judy 1000ppm)twice a day with an electric toothbrush and directly applying the paste to the damage at night.

I'd like to know if Dr. Zybutz agrees with this approach and would offer any advice. Our dentist has also mentioned that the enamel may mend itself over time, is that likely? I would also like his advice and opinion on what steps may be necessary to correct the decay at a later date and if anything can be done to cover the discolouration later on? I remember children at my school being bullied for stained teeth and while hers is not very noticeable if it could be covered I think it would help her when she's older.

As with other mums who have posted, teeth brushing is a battle, despite character brushes and paste, songs, games, star charts etc. Because of her problems I gently hold her arms and brush anyway. I am worried though that the teeth could be sensitive, is that likely and could I be hurting her by brushing? I don't see that I have many alternatives really but if the decay has made them sensitive she wouldn't be able to tell me clearly yet.It does sometimes seem that she yells more when I brush the teeth in question but it's hard to tell.

Fot background - she was and is breast fed, used to have juice but not since we noticed damage so now only drinks water or milk. She doesn't eat sweets and only occasionally biscuits or chocolate. Her father's family has always had problems with their teeth, I haven't and have no fillings as yet.