Does dental fluorosis in milk teeth continue to adult teeth?

My daughter is nearly three years old. We brush her teeth every night as part of her bed-time routine with a pea-sized amount of Colgate %26quot;Smiles%26quot; toothpaste for 2-6 yr olds. She likes brushing her teeth and does it enthusiastically with me supervising, and then I usually %26quot;finish off%26quot; for her - that is, brush all the bits that she%26#039;s missed or barely touched.





I%26#039;ve noticed over the last week that the top of her front, top teeth (the part nearest the gum) is starting to look mottled and yellowed. I%26#039;m wondering if this could be dental fluorosis? We live in an area with fluoridated water, and try as I might, I simply cannot stop my daughter from sucking the toothpaste off the brush, so I%26#039;m concerned her fluoride intake might be higher than recommended levels.





I%26#039;m aware that if it IS dental fluorosis it%26#039;s irreversible, but of course, these are only her baby teeth. My question is, when she gets her adult teeth through in 3 years or so, will they also be damaged?

Does dental fluorosis in milk teeth continue to adult teeth?
Fluoride can and does affect adult teeth as they are forming. It makes them much more resistant to dental decay.





Whether or not the adult teeth are being affected to the point they are developing fluorosis is difficult to say. Your dentist should be able to advise you better as to whether too much fluoride is beig taken in.





I understand your concerns. I myself used to be a dentist and my daughters milk teeth came early and her front incisor adult teeth ame through when she was only three and a half - early (most kids don%26#039;t get adult front teeth until around 6).





The front adult teeth are developing from the age of about 6 months,( if I remember correctly). This is the time that they are most susceptible to getting fluorosis - ie when developing rater than in the mouth. Whilst the mottling that comes with fluorsis can%26#039;t be %26quot;cured%26quot; there are treatment options available - not all of which are expensive, and most involve minimal use of the drill.





I really would be a bore and advise you to take your daughter along to see your dentist so that he can make a diagnosis as to what the marks on your daughter%26#039;s teeth are. The marks could have been caused by any number of thing s from a fall, to childhood illness or even your health during pregnancy and breast-feeding.





Good luck and hope you get some peace of mind.
Reply:This really sounds like something you need to ask your dentist and have checked out by him or her so you can know exactly what it is, how it needs to be treated, and have all your questions answered. If you are looking for quick answers, you might try webmd.com. Good luck, and I hope it%26#039;s nothing serious.
Reply:It sounds like your daughter%26#039;s hygiene routine is on the mark. The paste that you are using and the amount is appropriate along with your brushing as well (you should brush all of them and do this until at least age 7 due to lack of dexterity and (sometimes) interest on their part).





I think what you are seeing is probably plaque buildup and would suggest that you rub a toothpick gently at these areas to see if it is soft debris. Even as a hygienist I will do this with my son. I brush with him and even use my electric toothbrush with him on low speed. He loves it! Kids always love to suck the toothbrush so don%26#039;t beat yourself up about it!





Other issues to consider - is she drinking fluoridated juices or water regularly, is she taking a fluoride supplement? If the answers are no it is unlikely that she will have fluorosis on the adult teeth. Fluorosis on baby teeth does not mean it will be present in the adult dentition. Sometimes white spotting of the teeth can be caused by other issues, like trauma of a baby tooth causing damage to the adult tooth bud.





Hope that helps!


JAMRDH - a dental hygienist



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