"Bottle Caries" on a toddler's tooth?

[LoveBWVVBR]

What do "bottle caries" look like on an infant's teeth? We don't know if we are imagining things, but our toddler has a top front tooth that has a dark spot and what almost looks like a chip on the bottom side. It came in like this, so it's not actually chipped, though. The only thing that I can think of is what I've heard called "bottle caries," but our baby is only breastfed and has never even had a bottle She does still nurse at night sometimes. Could this spot be "bottle rot" or whatever it's called? Her next ped. well check isn't for a month, so if this needs to be taken care of we'd like to get on it sooner than that. Our dentist doesn't start seeing children until age 2, so I am not sure if he would have to see our DD sooner to take care of this or what

 

[KirstenB]

I don't know anything about cavities in babies, but could it be that she hit her tooth on something? That would discolor it.

ETA: oops, just re-read your post where you said it came in like that. Sorry, I don't have any idea.

 

[DawnCt1]

i would call your pediatricians office and have him recommend a pediadontist. most of then see children of any age.

 

[ZanneMarie]

I don't know if that is truely what you are seeing but here is my experience. My middle child had a dark spot on one of his front teeth that I had actually never really noticed until I took him to the peds dentist (for another issue-he was/is missing a few teeth). The dentist told me it was the begining of a cavity. I brushed that spot religiously and furiously for the next 6 months and by the time of his next check up it was gone! He was just under 2 years old when this occured. He also had been bottle weaned before he was 18 months and had never been one to fall asleep on the bottle.

 

[loveysbydesign]

My dd has the same type of thing even though she never had a bottle in her life. I took her to the dentist at 2 1/2 to get it checked out and they told me that her enamel didn't form properly on those teeth ( 2 front ones and 2 bottom 1st molars) and that we should keep a very close eye on them as it's easier for cavitites to form there. Now on her 1 molar tooth the spot has changed and it is very dark, I called the dentist and she'll get it checked out in 2 weeks to see if it turned into a cavity or not. hTH!

 

[alldiz]

i am a dental hygienist...

could be a cavity.....bottle rot looks brown....
i would bring him into your dentist just for a look....

for some reason doctors have no idea of what happens in the mouth...

if it is a cavity then go to a pedodontist...
good luck
kerri

 

[punkin]

My DD14 had "bottle" teeth and it was awful. Take her in to a dentist (your family dentist will be able to diagnose it and send you to the right specialist. My DD's teeth were so bad, they wanted to pull ALL of them under general anasthesia and give her dentures. I refused. We took a wait and see approach and (Thank God) her permanent teeth came in gorgeous and straight (no braces needed). However, she went in for dental checkups every 3 months to make sure it wasn't getting worse and spreading to her permanent teeth.

 

[TinkandAriel]

my dentist wanted to have root canals done on my 4yo's baby molars. Now, I understand that the back teeth are in her head for longer than the front teeth, but $2000 a tooth on BABY TEETH!!!! Not unless they start bothering her. It's been two years and the teeth are remaining the same and they don't bother her at all. We just brush like lunatics and floss and keep checking to see how things are.

 

[CathrynRose]

My 15 y/o son had baby-bottle mouth, when he was a munchkin - and I actually DID go the "cap the baby teeth" route. It was so hard and I felt so bad for him.... I wouldnt do it again, I just didnt know my options.

That being said - Joey's teeth also looked "chipped" and looked almost greenish only on the backside. We actually spotted it when he was laughing one day and threw his head back in laughter.

Find a dentist that DOES take younger kids. My son was pretty young... maybe 14 months-ish?

God - i still feel awfuil for having surgery for him. he just had such a hard time afterwards and looked so terrible and was so scared.

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

My 15 y/o son had baby-bottle mouth, when he was a munchkin - and I actually DID go the "cap the baby teeth" route. It was so hard and I felt so bad for him.... I wouldnt do it again, I just didnt know my options.

That being said - Joey's teeth also looked "chipped" and looked almost greenish only on the backside. We actually spotted it when he was laughing one day and threw his head back in laughter.

Find a dentist that DOES take younger kids. My son was pretty young... maybe 14 months-ish?

God - i still feel awfuil for having surgery for him. he just had such a hard time afterwards and looked so terrible and was so scared.

Can they just seal the tooth to minimize the trauma to the toddler? I can't imagine how they would have to restrain my 1 year-old in order to put a cap on this tooth She is already a clingy child, and I can't imagine how much that would stress her out

My DD's tooth always looked like this, from the time it broke through the skin basically. She's only had this particular tooth for 3-4 months, and it doesn't seem to be getting worse. I'm just concerned that any problems be taken care of asap so they don't affect her permanent teeth.

 

[dumplebugs]

My DD had a couple of teeth come in this way. She was also breastfeed, so no bottle at all. I took her to the Dentist when she was about 18 months. He said they were formed this way. One was on her front left tooth. They filled it without having to do any numbing. I do take her for check ups every six months. She is now almost 5 and has had no problems.

HTH,
Crystal

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

My DD had a couple of teeth come in this way. She was also breastfeed, so no bottle at all. I took her to the Dentist when she was about 18 months. He said they were formed this way. One was on her front left tooth. They filled it without having to do any numbing. I do take her for check ups every six months. She is now almost 5 and has had no problems.

HTH,
Crystal

How old was your DD when the dentist filled those teeth? My DD is 12 months-old, and I cannot imagine her willingly sitting through fillings at this age. She is really too young to understand what is going on, and she would just freak out. Nonetheless, I want to take care of this asap so it doesn't affect the permanent tooth that is behind it in any way.

 

[dumplebugs]

She was around 2 when the fill was done. I had explained what happens when we go to the dentist and I went back with her on the examination. I also have a DD that is 5 yo'der than her that had been having some work done so younger DD was familiar with the place. She even held still when they took the picture (xray) of her teeth.
Also be sure to take her to a pediatric dentist. Their places are so kid oriented. Ours has a TV in the ceiling about each chair. They always have a kid movie playing.

Crystal

 

[CathrynRose]

Can they just seal the tooth to minimize the trauma to the toddler? I can't imagine how they would have to restrain my 1 year-old in order to put a cap on this tooth She is already a clingy child, and I can't imagine how much that would stress her out

My DD's tooth always looked like this, from the time it broke through the skin basically. She's only had this particular tooth for 3-4 months, and it doesn't seem to be getting worse. I'm just concerned that any problems be taken care of asap so they don't affect her permanent teeth.

My son's tooth also "came in" looking chipped. Thats why I didnt know or think anything of it until, like I said - he was laughing and threw his head back.

I dont know about sealing it - or anything else. I didnt ask for more options and again, like I said - it's something I regret doing, cuz I felt overwhelmed and didnt know what choices I had, or if I had any.

I mean, it was "surgery". In the hospital, under anesthesia, etc. It sucked. (making me tear about it now and my son is 15!!!!!!) And I didnt like the dentist, either. UGH! Regrets!!!

Anyways - my son's teeth are fine. Theyre very typical - occasional cavities, nothing way different or horrible HOWEVER - his teeth are pretty yellow. Now whether or not it's from that, I dont know - but I got him "ZOOM"'d recently and he still is yellowey... .they're THAT yellow (stained...not whole tooth)

We're looking into Veneer's next year.

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

CathynRose, my neighbor's son has yellow teeth and she said that it's because he had a lot of antibiotics for ear infections when he was a baby/toddler. Perhaps that is what caused it for your son

I called our ped.'s office today, and his nurse recommended a pediatric dentist. I called them, and they had an opening for tomorrow morning so I took it. They explained to me how they will examine her (I lie down with her in the chair). I am still nervous about DD getting really freaked out, but I feel like we need to take care of this now so she doesn't risk having problems with the permanent tooth in the future. Also, she has teeth so as far as I'm concerned she should be seeing her dentist for check-ups. My dentist said that he didn't start seeing kids until age 2, though Anyways, I'm glad that we decided on a pediatric dentist for DD. I'll post an update when we get back from her appt.

 

[CathrynRose]

CathynRose, my neighbor's son has yellow teeth and she said that it's because he had a lot of antibiotics for ear infections when he was a baby/toddler. Perhaps that is what caused it for your son

.

A lot of people have told me that - BUT Joey was never ever sick. I dont think he even ever had to take an anti-biotic but once, honestly.

I had a dentist tell me it could just be genetics, but that doesnt explain the staining... the whole tooth is yellow, yes - BUT there's a DARKER yellow in the middle. I dunno...

Good luck to you. Really weigh the pro's and con's of whatever options he gives you if it turns into a big deal. I really wish I had.

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

We went to DD's new pediatric dentist this morning. He said that the "chip" was not a chip at all. It was a place where the enamel didn't form on the tooth when I was pregnant with her. The good news is that this will NOT affect the permanent tooth below at all. Also, where the missing enamel is located is a good spot because there is no real way for bacteria to enter the tooth at the very bottom. It gets cleaned off too often from talking, etc. That's what he told me anyways, and it made me feel better.

The bad news is that he asked if I took any medication when pregnant, and I told him about the reflux meds. that I have to take daily. He said that he has now seen several mothers who took that med. while pregnant and their babies have soft or missing enamel on their baby teeth I could not feel any worse about this if I tried I was told by my OB that the medicine was safe for use during pregnancy. She even looked it up in some manual while I was in for one of my pregnancy visits. I will certainly ask for other options the next time I'm pregnant. On the bright side, DD's dentist said that this will in no way affect her permanent teeth. We will have to be vigilant about missing enamel on her baby teeth, though, so we have to keep them extra clean.

 

[CathrynRose]

The bad news is that he asked if I took any medication when pregnant, and I told him about the reflux meds. that I have to take daily. He said that he has now seen several mothers who took that med. while pregnant and their babies have soft or missing enamel on their baby teeth I could not feel any worse about this if I tried I was told by my OB that the medicine was safe for use during pregnancy. She even looked it up in some manual while I was in for one of my pregnancy visits. I will certainly ask for other options the next time I'm pregnant. On the bright side, DD's dentist said that this will in no way affect her permanent teeth. We will have to be vigilant about missing enamel on her baby teeth, though, so we have to keep them extra clean.

DO NOT FEEL BAD!!! SERIOUSLY!!

I have asthma which was really bad during my pregnancy. I HAD to take asthma meds - or I would have been miserable (and maybe even dead) had I not.

I even took Compazine - again, not good - cuz I was SO Nauseated I HAD to take it, or I'd be sick constantly.

Had you not taken it - how could you have survived 9 months??? Seriously...

And on a side note - I ate TUMS like candy with both pregancies.... I wonder if this could be an option? Or maybe thats what caused the weak enamel for mine too!?!?!?

 

[Tinkim]

When my middle DS12 front baby teeth came in I noticed too that he had what looked light a discolored chip on one of them. I took him to my dentist just to ask him about it and he recommended a pedatric dentist (who was his roommate in college). I took him to see the ped dentist and he told me that it was from the enamel not forming properly. FWIW I ate OTC antacids by the box when I was pregnant. It turned out that he had six teeth affected and I ended up having to put him in the hospital and get the six teeth capped. What a nightmare. Cathyrnrose. . . I feel your pain! Anyway he ended up losing his two front (capped) teeth less than a year later in a Burger King slide mishap, which had to be surgically removed by an oral surgeon. So he went without front teeth for three years but his adult teeth look pretty good. No problems with the enamel. He does need braces but that has nothing to do with the other problems. Good luck with your DD. I know how hard this can be but hopefully her adult teeth will come in beautifully.

BTW . . . I have never heard the link between antacids and tooth enamel problems until now. . . interesting.

 

[CathrynRose]

I took him to see the ped dentist and he told me that it was from the enamel not forming properly. FWIW I ate OTC antacids by the box when I was pregnant.

BTW . . . I have never heard the link between antacids and tooth enamel problems until now. . . interesting.

WOW WOW WOW! Neither had I....