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.

[DrZybutz]

MummyC, you ask an important question about habits. I think the main reason you are having difficulty is because you are only brushing at night and perhaps not enforcing that teeth-cleaning is a normal part of your child?s daily routine. As mentioned to RubySlippers, try brushing your teeth together and make sure your 14 month old likes the toothpaste. Children should become accustomed to cleaning their teeth at least twice a day. The earlier this becomes routine, the better as this will help them form good habits from an early age. There may be screaming matches at first, don?t let this deter you from keeping to a schedule. All that will subside when, like getting dressed and napping and bathing, children learn that brushing is simply part of their everyday routine.

[DrZybutz]

Hi Carolt, like many mums it seems you are concerned that even though your children are brushing, they may not doing quite a good enough job yet.

Indeed, there are things you can do to help enhance your child?s cleaning efforts. The first thing I would recommend is not allowing your children to rinse with water after brushing. This washes away the good fluoride that toothpaste has deposited on their teeth. If they are going to rinse, best to do so with a children?s mouthwash that contains fluoride. Proper rinsing will also help to dislodge any left-behind food particles or plaque that has broken free of the teeth during brushing.

[DrZybutz]

Starlight, toothpaste is absolutely essential. In addition to containing fluoride, which strengthens and protects teeth against decay, it also helps to clean the teeth.

[DrZybutz]

Hi MARGO. Flossing is very important as it gets to trapped food particles between teeth and at the gumline. Although you may find it difficult to floss your young child?s teeth for them, it is a good idea to show them how to floss and let them ?pretend? to floss with you. This way, flossing becomes something they are familiar with. When they get old enough and dexterous enough to do it properly, they will see it as part of a complete oral care routine. In addition to regular visits to the dentist, flossing is an important part of a daily 3-step routine - brush, floss and rinse -which children should get used to from a young age.

[DrZybutz]

Slubber, I?m afraid you are facing a difficult battle. Thumbsucking is not an easy habit to break, especially if your children are over the age of 2. A good rule of ?thumb? (no pun intended) is to try and take the dummie/ pacifier away as soon as possible in order to wean them away from a sucking habit. If the thumbsucking (dummie/pacificer) stops before the age of six, the teeth should go back to their right position without orthodontics. Nevertheless, it's best to break the habit as soon as possible.

[DrZybutz]

Nbg, regarding home whitening products, the only way to safely and predictably whiten your teeth is to see your dentist. OTC products rarely work and can be damaging to teeth, gums and your jaw.

[DrZybutz]

FlightAttendent, definitely use an electric toothbrush and see your dentist/hygenist on a regular basis.

[DrZybutz]

Peachy, you should go and visit a dentist as there could be long term damage.

[DrZybutz]

DanJarMouse, I think you should definitely see a specialist child dentist (paedodontist). As it is difficult to tell from your question if there is a serious issue that needs addressing.

[DrZybutz]

RTKangaMummy, I would absolutely recommend a fixed retainer behind the teeth after the train track braces are removed. This ensures that the teeth stay in their desired position. It does however make cleaning slighlty more difficult, hence be sure to follow the 3-step oral care routine of brush twice daily, floss and rinse.

[DrZybutz]

Snamfa, as your son is only 8, he should not be using a grown up toothpaste. It isn't confirmed that sodium lauryl sulphate is a cause of mouth ulcers. I advise you to see your dentist when your son has mouth ulcers to help the dentist diagnose the cause and provide appropriate treatment.

[DrZybutz]

Hi Wilbur and PastYourBedtime.

It is true that certain antibiotics have been shown to cause problems in developing teeth ? specifically Tetracycline. Most doctors now know this and avoid prescribing Tetracycline for young children, but if your child has darkened lines across his teeth, this could be the reason.

If your children are showing signs of decay at a young age, then it would suggest you need to take extra care when cleaning teeth. Again, all children have different needs ? some don?t have to brush very diligently to have healthy teeth, others need to try harder. Do consult your dentist, but I imagine he would suggest you take extra measures to ensure your children are cleaning thoroughly.

Learning proper brushing technique, using an egg timer to ensure children are brushing for two-minutes each time and adding a fluoridated mouthwash to the equation will all help.

[DrZybutz]

Hi Werewabbit and Tinkywinks, without seeing your child?s teeth it?s hard to say if the staining is due to plaque buildup, so I would ask your dentist.

You do not need to brush your child's teeth three times daily and definitely should not brush the teeth within one hour of eating as this could accelerate acid errosion.

A lot of mums think they are doing well to give their children fruit in place of sugary snacks, but too much fruit can be very bad for teeth. Avoid dried fruits in particular as these have lots of concentrated sugar and when feeding your kids fruit juices, dilute them with water by at least a 50/50 ratio.

I can?t be sure that these yellow stains have anything to do with the fruit, but suggest visiting your dentist for a proper assessment.

For additional excellent information on children's diet and tooth decay, see the appropriate section on Mumsnet.

[Porpoise]

Hi Dr Zybutz

Please answer my question! I'd really like to know what you think about sealing children's teeth.

Is it a good idea? How does it help (if it does)?

[DrZybutz]

Ruthhaasbb and My2 -

In regards to how many times a day to brush your teeth, as I told Werewabbit and Tinkywinks, you do not need to brush your child's teeth three times daily and definitely should not brush the teeth within one hour of eating as this could accelerate acid errosion. A good idea is for your children to rinse out with water after lunch at school.

At a very young age, tooth grinding, although sounds horrible, is not significant. The loss of tooth structure is possibly due to an acidic diet (lots of fruit juice?), grinding and excessive brushing. Make sure your kids are using a children's fluoride-containing toothpaste and a kid-friendly mouthwash.

[DrZybutz]

Hi Rainbowfish. I hope your dentist has a good manner with children, as that will help! Just one question ? have you ever tried sitting in the waiting room while your son goes in without you? I find that some children feed off of their parents? presence and only experience anxiety when mum is there to ?rescue? them, but when mum is taken out of the equation I tend to get on very well with most of my little patients.

[RTKangaMummy]

Thank you

[DrZybutz]

Hi Porpoise and MARGO. Sealing the teeth is an excellent idea as this helps protect the more vulnerable areas of the teeth from decay. This is especially important for newly erupted permanent back teeth.

[FluffyMummy123]

Message withdrawn

[WilfSell]

watching with baited breath to see if questions answered...

[DrZybutz]

Babyboo1and2, the white bits on adult teeth in this case sound like normally occuring opacities which are not clinically significant. If it is an aesthetic problem, a cosmetic dentist can help.

Permanent teeth naturally appear yellower due to the increased amount of dentine.

Fluorosis results from an excessive fluoride intake, which does not seem to have been caused by your diet.

This also does not sound like an hereditary cause of discolouration. However, it might be best to check with a paedodontist.

I would not consider dentist-supervised whitening for your kids until 16 years old.

[WilfSell]

was I too rude with my charging cmments?

wasn't meaning to be, honest.

Really would like to know whether a decayed molar in a 9 y o should be pulled or left if it is beyond further treatment...

[CamdenTowner]

there seems to be so much conflicting advice from different dentists - the latest thing I've heard is to clean teeth before breakfast not afterwards . - something to do with not cleaning your teeth too soon after juice and fruit as it attacks enamel. So all those years of making sure they clean their teeth before school has been not just a waste but harmful. Is that really the case - and is it really better not to brush at all, than to brush too soon?

[GeraldineMumsnet]

It's almost 2pm, so Dr Zybutz's slot is nearly up. Thanks to him for coming on and thanks to everyone who posted questions and joined in.

[fiplus4]

My 4 yer old DD has just had a large first molar extracted s the damage wastoo extensive to fill and there was a lare area of infection underneath. The letter to our dentist from the paediatric dentist says that the enamel on this particular tooth was very thin - hypoplastic was I think the expression taht he used - and that there is no evidence of this on any of her other teeth. How can this happen?