Childrens Teeth

[frizzytwig]

My 6 year old son has just got up this morning and I noticed a white discoloured patch on one of his front teeth (this is an adult tooth). Has anyone any idea what it is? It was not there last night when my husband brushed his teeth, I.ve tried googling but because I used words white and discolouration the only hits I get are for cosmetic treatments.

Thanks

[maximo]

Hello ! I used to get those white patches on my teeth  when I was a kid, and they still occasionnaly reappear, apparently whenever I've got a cold ( don't know why ). My dentist told me that it migth have to do with you taking a lot of antibiotics as a child, which can damage the enamel. I remember he gave me fluoride supplements but I can't remember if it made a difference ( I was about 6 or 7 , like your son). Maybe you could ask your dentist ? Hope this helps.

[morg_monster]

on the other hand a mottled pattern with white patches on the teeth can be caused by too much fluoride (fluoridosis), when there is too much fluoride in the water or children swallow fluoride toothpaste or mouthwash.  BUT these are apparent when the adult tooth first appear and so it sounds unlikely that this is it.

[acw]

I can try to help here! :-)  I don't mean to disagree with anyone, since they are almost certainly basing their answers on the views of expert medical professionals.  However, the fluoride debate is still not settled.  As children my best friend and I both had it.  Her dentist said too much fluoride, mine said too little.  Neither of us took antibiotics as a child (well, not more than one or two courses anyway).  I've asked my dentist again recently, and he tells me there are still opposing schools of thought re fluoride. 

I had extensive cosmetic treatment to correct mine, but it has also improved naturally with age.  Sometimes though, I wake up in the morning and my front top teeth look yellow, with BRIGHT WHITE patches at the bottom of them.  I then realise that they only look yellow relative to the white patches.  My dentist explained to me that my enamel gets easily dehydrated and that by brushing extra carefully that morning and drinking lots of water, it'll correct itself through the day. 

Of course when I have a cold, I sleep with my mouth open (probably!) and so the teeth get more dehydrated and take longer to recover.  I'll bet your son has a cold at the moment. 

My advice - don't worry about it too much now, just ask the dentist next time you're in.   And SMILE! :-)

[frizzytwig]

acw, many thanks, when Sam returned home tonight after a day playing football, therefore drinking lots of water, the white certainly looked less pronounced and he also has been a bit miserable so I am expecting a cold to come out (wouldn't you know it what with school back on Monday) 

[acw]

Glad to hear it was improving already by the time you last posted frizzytwig!  If it's bad again today, don't worry as it'll probably sort itself out once his cold goes. 

I know this goes without saying, (but I figure I never said exactly how old I am) dental practice and theory has come on a long way since I was little as I was born in 1983.  However, I still think it sounds like what I had - and time and water cured it well enough for me! :-)

[Hermia]

I've got two white patches on my teeth that come and go all the time - it's rather bizarre. My dentist doesn't seem to think they're a problem though.

[claireb]

my 7 year old has the same problem. she has several white patches on her front teeth which i have only noticed recently. they are far worse in the morning. i took her to our dentist who did not seem overly bothered and said that if it bothers her when shes older she can have her teeth bleeched! she also said that it looks worse in the morning as she sleeps with her mouth open and this dehydrates her mouth which makes the white appear brighter - she also told me to get her to rinse her mouth out after she brushes her teeth - which she wasnt doing. i have looked on the internet and some of the sites suggest that too much flouride can do this to teeth - i have never seen anything like this before on teeth - would be interested to know what your dentist says as think they all have different opinions.