Hi mamas!
My 2 and a half year old son brushes his teeth every night before bed. I try to help him but he is VERY independent. So instead of fighting with him, I let him brush them himself. If I see he's not getting them that well, I'll smile and tell him to smile and brush the front teeth, etc. He does. Last night I noticed his lower front teeth are dark brown, almost black, along his gumline. Without thinking how it'd make him feel I blurted out that his teeth looked terrible. I felt bad that slipped out so I told him that he needed to let mommy brush them to get the gunk off his teeth. He actually let me. I brushed and brushed. No such luck. My fiance took over and brushed and brushed. I don't think we got any of it off! He's too little to take to the dentist (my dentist said to start bringing him in at 3 years old). I think it would be very difficult to get him to sit still and that it would scare him. Do you mamas have any suggestions on how to get his teeth clean? Have you had any experience like this?! Thanks for any help!
Thanks mamas! I got him put on my dental insurance (effective February 1st) and made an appointment with a pediatric dentist for February 5th. Until then I will make sure I take over the brushing and maybe I can loosen some of it up! I also found this info on a website and it made me feel a little better:
Chromogenic bacteria is the cause of the plaque on teeth that results in black line stain. This type of bacteria is known for causing calcification. In plaque caused by chromogenic bacteria the deposit of calcium along the gum line is the cause of children with black line stain to have a remarkably lower incidence of dental decay.
If the discoloration is actually tooth decay which can look like darkening, you need to take him in. It can be painful, cause other infections in his mouth and could affect his permananet teeth. I would schedule a dentist appointment for a look-see. Wish I had better advice.
B.
If you giv him a bottle of sippy cup of milk, that can add to the "build-up" on thier teeth, but it may be another cause as well.
My son got a "dead" tooth when he was about 3, and while I was mortified that it looked blackish and dull learned that it is a normal thing for kids to do. When they bump thier mouth with enough force it causes the roots to separate enough for the tooth to "die" We researched it and found we could either have it pulled, or to just leave it there(will not get infected) until it falls out on its own.
Hope this helps!
Vitamins, juices, berries, mustard, all these things can stain teeth. So can asthma inhalers. As a hygienist tootbrushing is a none negotiable task that I do. My 18 mo daughter lays in my lap and I brush her teeth morning and night. Sometimes she fights me on it and I tell her I will hold her hands. I always let her brush after. Most Children do not hav the fine motor skills to brush on their own until they have mastered cursive writing. I use a little baking soda in my daughters baby toothpaste every once in a while. Really helps. Don't b afraid to take ur child to see a dentist earlier. Some kids are genetically prone to tartar and or cavities. Even at that young of age. I think
getting them desensitized early on helps make for positive visits. Because many people have had fearful experiences at dental offices this fear gets passed on to children. Please talk positively about dental visits and don't say "u don't have to be afraid". Then a child starts to worry that their maybe something scary. Hopefully u have a great dentist with a great staff u can trust and u can get ur
son started on a positive dental track. Good luck!
actually they should see a dentist at about a year old. There are such things as pediatric dentists talk to your doctor to recommend one. I know how easy it is to put it off I have too and my daughter is almost two. But the darkness on the gums and teeth can be a very serious problem such as gingivitis.
i think 3 is probably the "recommended" age for kids who have healthy teeth, and from what i have heard they mostly just do a very quick once over when they're that small anyway. but you're describing actual dental issues. whatever it is, i would get him to see someone asap.
I think you can take him to the dentist. They may not be able to do a cleaning like normal, but they should at least be able to talk to him about dentist visits and cleaning, and take a look at his teeth. They can tell you how to get them clean. Call a pediatric dentist and ask.
First of all let me tell u this I started taking all my kids to see the dentist @ age 1 to have reg. checkups your right they don't sit still nor complete the exam but it helps when a professional examines the teeth to look for potential problems.If u are notocing that he has blackened teeth that is tooth decay & could be going down to his nerves depending on how bad the cavaties are they may need to put caps on them.My son is now 6 he has 4 caps because of cavaties that have formed inbetween the teeth not the surface he had to have a molar pulled not because of decay he just had an abnormal morlar it was too large had 4 roots not 2 so it caused an abcess that had to be taken care of.Your dentist may not be a pediatric dentist he may look care for all ages but his speciality isn't in children I would highly recommend a pediatric dentist.Just because they are baby teeth they can effect your mouth and adult teeth.
Good Morning J., Are you sure its tartor on his teeth? If you have brushed this much and it's still there it probably isn't tartar. It could be juice stains of something likt that. Our eldest son took a liquid vitamin when he was little and it turned his top teeth a brownish color. Was yucky looking.
Has he fell and bumped his teeth lately? Our Gr son Zane 2, fell and really bummed up his month a few months ago. I called our dentist and he said to watch him and if his teeth started to turn gray to get him in, as he had damaged the roots. HE was fine but it took many days for them to tighten up so he could eat again.
I would call a ped Dentist and make an appointment. They are so good with little people will show them what they are going to do before they do it. Corbin did awesome on his first visit, the let him spin the cleaning pad, spray the water etc.. as did our other gr kids.
God Bless J.
K. Nana of 5
PS It tastes yucky bit I guess you could see if he will let you brush his teeth with a little baking soda and wet the brush with peroxide. Will bubble alot.
Teach him to Spit first though...lol No swallowing.
I don't have any advice as to how to get his teeth clean at home. If you are that concerned about his teeth you should take hime to a dentist. Explain the situation to your dentist or find another dentist in your area.
For the future even at 2 1/2, I think he should brush three times per day (after meals). My husband or myself made sure we did the brushing at least one of those times (mostly at the end of the day). You can still allow your son to brush on his own once per day, to develop his skills and maintain independence.
He's not too little to see a dentist. Recommendations that I've seen are 6mo to a year, or as soon as they start cutting their first tooth. Mine both started around a year old. I would definitely make an appointment right away.
Find a pediatric dentist, they will see any age. Some general dentists will start seeing kids at 12 months. My youngest son is almost 2 and he has been to the dentist twice already. Pediatric dentists are trained to see the small or uncooperative ones. If it is black around the guine a toothbrush won't get it off. Good luck:-)
It sounds like you're going to the dentist, so that is good. I can't believe your dentist told you to wait until 3 - because it should be once they have teeth...not only the fact that they have teeth and teeth need care, but to get your child used to the dentist and chair, etc. I hope things go well!
If you are concerned about his teeth, it is not too early to take him to the dentist. Call Drs Jenkins and LeBlanc they are pediatric dentists that have a practice on Shawnee mission parkway and K-7. If this isn't convenient ask around to find a good pediatric dentist. When you call to make an appointment, tell them your concerns and they should know whether it is too early to go to the dentist.
I think you need to get him in to the dentist or at the very least his pediatrician. It sounds to me like something more serious than just dirty teeth. 2 is not to early to see the dentist it is usually recommended that they see a dentist for the first time when they get their first tooth. There are dentists that specialize in children and they have methods they use to make children feel at ease.
He's not too young for a dentist. It sounds like he has some very bad tartar build up and a tooth brush will not remove it.
To find a Pediatric Dentist try here:
Perhaps finding a pediatric dentist who is comfortable with smaller patients might be better. My son started seeing the dentist around 19 months after a very traumatic mouth injury. His younger sister was also around the same age. Two and a half is definitely not too little with the right dentist. Our dentist has video games, gives prizes, stickers, etc. A pediatric dentist is geared to smaller patients - smaller chairs, tools, etc. They also know how to work with kids to make the visit less traumatic and even somewhat fun. Also, if you do something special after your dentist visit, your son will come to associate the dentist with good thoughts. Even after the traumatic injury, my son does not have bad thoughts about the dentist.
If you are seeing discoloration around the gumline that sounds like a good reason for a visit. There might be some decay going on or at least plague. Permanent teeth can be affected by the health of the baby teeth. Otherwise, figuring out how to make a game of brushing teeth is all I can suggest. Pretending to paint his teeth different colors, counting his teeth. Let him brush either before or after you do. Hold his hand while he brushes. Tell him you will let him brush the ones you miss or vv. I tell my kids we only have to brush the ones they want to keep. You could try a tooth brushing sticker chart. It might be a struggle but it will get better with consistency and patience.
Good Luck.
I just took my 3 year old daughter to the dentist and she did fine she sat in the chair all by herself and let them look at her teeth and count them. I would really find a dentist that is good with children. I don't know where you live but there is Dr.Jenkins and leblanc (sp)in Shawnee I believe and Dr.Eikenbary in Piper Ks that is where we go and love it.
I would find a Pediatric dentist and call and make an appointment...explain to them about the problem and see what they say... they have more experience with working with the younger kids... I would rather have it checked out then to find out later that something could have been done. Good Luck!
Take him to the dentist. My son's first appt was when he was 16 months. He just went again at 22 months. They don't do a thorough cleaning, but they check the teeth and put fluoride on them. We use a "kid" dentist (The Smile Center in Leavenworth) and I think that helps! Good Luck!
Also, the dentist can talk to you about good habits--no pacifier, no bottle, limit juice/milk, etc.
My nephew and my next door neighbor's little boy have what sounds like the same thing. It seems to happen to boys more than girls but it has something to do with iron in the body. I'm not sure if it's too much iron or just the way their body processes it but a black line develops along the gumline. Both boys have been seeing a dentist regularily since about 18 mo old and have been told they should grow out of it. My nephew is now 6 years old and still has it. He brushes his teeth with one of those spinbrush toothbrushes two-three times a day. My neighbor is now 3 and has it mildly. Brushing 1-2 times a day with a regular brush keeps his teeth clean. Start taking him to the dentist and find out if iron is the culprit. You could also try a pediatric dentist.
I would take him to the dentist, no matter if my dentist told me to wait till he was three. Does your dentist know his teeth look this way? I would make an appointment.
I know that dentists don't normally take kids until they are 3, but call your dentist & tell them what your sons teeth look like. I will be suprised if a dentist would be willing to let your child's teeth rot out just because they don't take kids until a certain age. If your dentist will not listen then call your doctor or another dentist.
God bless!
