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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Teen with braces just found a cavity

15 replies

par05 · 21/07/2020 23:02

Hi so my ds is 13 and has had braces for a year, over quarantine while I've been at work, he has been getting up and not brushing his teeth, even though I am always telling him too!
Anyway today I looked at his teeth and can see decay around one of his brackets, on his front top tooth, am absolutely fuming with him as he has been so lax despite repeated warnings from me, about brushing his teeth and flossing as has been unable to see orthodontist.
Has this happened to anyone before, can his tooth be saved ? I have rang dentist and made an app in the next 2 weeks.

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DishRanAwayWithTheSpoon · 21/07/2020 23:09

Well it depends how big the cavity is, but yes it can most likely be saved with a white filling. Its very unlikely it wont be saveable at this stage

Braces make teeth a lot more prone to decay, and if he hasnt been brushing his teeth then this was pretty inevitable. Hopefully its a bit of a wake up call for him, this damage will be there forever. Do you know how much longer hes got to have the braces on for? Id be a bit concerned if hes not taking proper care of his teeth with braces that he could end up with a lot of cavities.

Teenagers in braces has been my biggest worry teeth wise through lockdown as they arent known for taking great care of their teeth and they arent getting checked as regularly as normal theres no chance to pick up on it

par05 · 21/07/2020 23:16

Thank you for the reply @DishRanAwayWithTheSpoon I'm devastated as I have a load of fillings and don't like my teeth, and have always made sure the kids look.after theirs!
I have told him now that I will be making him brush his teeth 3x a day from now on.

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chaoticisatroll55 · 21/07/2020 23:26

You can make emergency appointments at the orthodontist at the moment but it will need attention from a dentist not your orthodontist really.

par05 · 21/07/2020 23:39

I rang his dentist and the next available app was in 2 weeks and I did explain he has decay on front tooth but the app is with orthodontist!

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par05 · 21/07/2020 23:48

Here is a pic of the tooth, I'm hoping they can do something, but not sure how ?

Teen with braces just found a cavity
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par05 · 21/07/2020 23:49

You can see the decay spot just around the bracket of his top left front tooth.

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itsasmallworldafterall · 21/07/2020 23:54

Are you sure that's not something stuck there, or staining of the cement holding the bracket in place?

par05 · 21/07/2020 23:58

Yep as I had hoped it was that at first, but made him use his floss stick and brush his teeth and it didn't budge

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DishRanAwayWithTheSpoon · 22/07/2020 08:41

It does look like something stuck or staining more than decay but obviously I cant feel it so its a bit hard to tell

Either way its not massive. To fill it youd probably need to remove the bracket and then recement it or you might just be able to go around the bracket. Its certainly saveable

par05 · 04/08/2020 12:23

Update, orthodontist app yesterday, it was a stain on the bracket glue! But he does need to brush his teeth more carefully, and the dentist has given him duraphat toothpaste, so kinda glad he was seen.

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TheHighestSardine · 04/08/2020 12:31

Ah! Good result, hopefully it's shaken DS up enough to brush his bloody teeth. Teenagers, eh?

par05 · 04/08/2020 20:05

I hope it has, also, alot of nagging from me constantly now to brush his teeth! Should get the message through.
I had bad teeth as a child due to eating disorder and had veneers at 24,but still have a mouthful of cavitys and still don't like my teeth, so am a bit ott with the children and don't want them to go through what I did!

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FullofSurprises · 04/08/2020 20:57

You can definitely tell he isn't brushing his teeth often (or flossing) as his gums are swollen around his top teeth.
When I had braces I used a waterpik, you can buy them off amazon. My dental hygienist always commented at how good my teeth were after using one of those.

par05 · 05/08/2020 22:13

I never noticed that @FullofSurprises just looked at his pic again and can see it now! thank you I will look at buying a waterpik.

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FullofSurprises · 05/08/2020 22:43

They are amazing for getting food particles stuck in the wires out, but also they are very good for getting plaque out in between and up in the gym margin. I never has swollen puffy gums again after using one.
They do take a little getting used to and I suggests he uses it on the low setting initially as it can be a bit tender until his gums harden up to having water blasted at them.

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