My DC's have discoloured teeth from baby antibiotics. We currently use Aquafresh baby 0-4 and 6+ toothpaste. DH thinks we need to try a better one.

[FAB5]

Any ideas/experience please?

My dc's have the same issue - I've been told by the dentist that the enamel was damaged by the anti-biotics and therefore no tooth paste can erase the damage - just have to wait fot their adult teeth to come through.

These are the adult teeth.

Is it a sort of yellow/grey colour? Can you remember the name of the ABs that caused it?

It sounds as if it may be "tetracycline teeth" - in which case, I'm sorry to say, the discolouration is permanent.

A friend of DD's has this from antibiotics as well, also on her adult front teeth. Her mum has been told that toothpaste won't make a difference. Her mum is planning that once she's about 14 or 15 she's going to pay to have some sort of veneers put on.

It was probably amoxycillin. We will get them whitened but can't until he is about 15. I was just wondering if there was anything we could do in the meantime. They are 7 and 10 and the older one insists on doing his own teeth.

AFAIK Amoxicillin isn't sequestered in teeth/bones, only the tetracycline based ones along with blood metabolites such as bilirubin.

Anyway, adult TP is fine for children as long as a small pea sized amount is used and they are not swallowing it. This will depend on their age etc. (How old are they?) There are lots of options available to mask the discolouration once DCs are older so instilling excellent oral hygiene regimes now will really give them the advantage once they are of an age where cosmetic work is appropriate.

They are 7 and 10 and my 7 year old can't spit it out.

Are you saying that you think they have discoloured adult teeth because they had amoxycillin when they had baby teeth? Why would that be?

Children's teeth often come through slightly more yellow and then seem to lighten up with time, so what you are describing might be perfectly normal.

As for current tooth brushing - I would expect a 7 and a 10 year old to be doing their own teeth - adults checking afterwards if they are not reliable - and for them to use adult paste and be able to spit out the excess. I recommend disclosing tablets to get them to understand just how much brushing they need to do to get them properly clean .

That was what I was told by the dentist .

Which teeth have the discolouration/staining/marks? Has your dentist sealed their permanent molars?

How strange? Was it your current dentist who said this - if so, I would ask for a fuller explanation. Loads of children have AB's as kids, and I haven't noticed an epidemic of discoloured teeth .

I personally wouldn't use any kind of teeth whitening paste on children - I would worry it might damage them (but I have no scientific knowledge for this ).

hi DD was on daily antibiotics plus top up ones for the first few years of her life; at age 5 her teeth are very yellow - and yes we were warned this would happen by her pediatricians, and the effect has been confirmed as antibiotic related by her dentist. Its pretty well documented on internet sites too

we will go for whitening later on - she only has two adult teeth coming through at moment, but am expecting them to be yellow too

Not all antibiotics cause this though, it is well documented but only well documented with the ABs that actually cause discolouration. ie tetracylines.

Lots of adult teeth look yellow compared to baby teeth when they come through. The take home message IMO is to speak to your dentist about what is normal and if things are abnormal, how to treat them best.

Bums: I used to work abroad, and yes discoloured teeth were commonly seen there because they did not have the same guidelines on prescribing as we do in UK (and cost/availability may have been a factor too).

It is only the tetracycline group which cause tooth discolouration, and they are not normally prescribed from 2nd trimester pregnancy, during BFing or to children under 8 in UK.

I understand what you are saying - but the OP is talking about amoxycillin use - loads of children are given that in the UK and they don't have this problem. I accept it might happen with inappropriate prescribing abroad, but this isn't what the OP is saying. Should her dentist have suggested having amoxycillin as babies has lead to her children's teeth being discoloured ? Op didn't suggest she had shed-loads prescribed either?

FAB5: you said "probably amoxycillin" - how sure are you?

Apologies if I have been barking up the wrong tree!

I know they have had amoxycillin but possibly other ABs too. The dentist has said he can whiten the teeth but we wouldn't use whitening toothpaste on the children.

Ds has this. Not surprising as he was on permanent antibiotics. It's called hypoplastic where the enamel isn't properly formed or adhered to the teeth. Toothpaste will not change that - at least that is what our dentist has said. The teeth will need to be coated once the mineralising stops.

Should add he was on abs from birth to about 4.5 yrs. Thankfully not on them any longer but the damage is done.