Has anyone had a problem with tooth decay when they were a child?

My daughters top front teeth are decaying, she's 2 years old, and I know its from her drinking too much apple juice. I took her to her doctor, and he said she can't go see a dentist until she is 3, and he prescribe her some soduim floride, but It seems like it is making it worst. I live in Delaware in the wilmington area, does anyone know of any pediatric dentist that will see her now at her age.? And has anyone ever experience this and what needed to be done, to make your teeth close to normal?

Has anyone had a problem with tooth decay when they were a child?
Your dentist apparently isn't trained in pediatric denistry. It is now recommended children see a dentist by age 1. Look for a dentist who works in pediatrics in your yellow pages.





My daughter had this problem at 2 yrs of age also. Her decay was a definite result of too much juice and a constant sippy cup.





She had surgery at age 4 in which her decayed teeth were extracted. Other teeth with potential problems or small cavities, were filled and all teeth were treated with flouride.





I urge you to call a pediatric dentist asap. If the baby teeth are very decayed and not extracted, it will effect her permanent teeth.





Best wishes!


PS. The surgery sounds really painful but remarkably it isn't too bad!
Reply:a dentist will see your daughter, I don't know what your dr is thinking!! Check you local yellow pages, they will have ped. dentisits listings, or call 1800 dentist.
Reply:My two year old daughter has the same problem. I have heard alot of things about childrens tooth decay, like they will affect the new ones coming in(in a few years), or dont go see the dentist. But I will as soon as i can get her one. You should do the same.
Reply:A dentist will see your daughter.


They used to say at age three, and kids were coming in with cavaties. Then they use to say 2, and kids were still coming in with cavaties. Now its at age 1 that a child should go to the dentist for the first time. Good luck.
Reply:My son is going through this, and let me tell you two things:


1) It isn't necessarily your fault in fact the CDC classifies cavities as a transmittable disease.


2) Get this dealt with as quickly as possible. I had to go through public insurance and it took 2 months to see the pediatric dentist, then another 2 months to get the next appointment to do anything. In the meantime my son's tooth broke because of the decay and the dentist refused to put a temporary cap on it. Now maybe a month sitting with no enamel did no more damage (yeah right) and it is possible the outcome would have been the same but by the time they went to do the fillings and cap the tooth was too far gone and had to be pulled. Now he is getting fit with a denture and it's all a bloody nightmare. [BTW you really don't want to get me started if I have to be in the same room as that dentist again I am going to hit him. I wanted to kill him at the first visit but I didn't have a lot of choice in the matter]





Anyway ANY pediatric dentist will see a child under 3. Look for one that has a short waiting list for going under anesthetic -preferably at a hospital as that is the only way to do fillings on a small child. If the cavities are too bad they can try to stall using sealants and other methods, however if you are this concerned I imagine you are beyond that.





Flouride sealant.


http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml...





Anyway I can't find the link to the cdc statement on caries being a transmittable disease, but dentists like to pretend they don't know that only certain strains of bacteria cause cavities because they have no way to treat the bacteria. Google caries and "strep mutans" and you will find more.
Reply:Your doctor is living in the past. Pediatric dentists recommend brining in children starting at age one. I've never heard of one that won't see them until age three these days!





Since you know she drinks too much apple juice, stop giving it to her so often and brush her teeth after she drinks it, or eats or drinks anything other than water.
Reply:my husband had terrible teeth as a child (because his mom gave him bottles with soda and juice and so on in the crib all the time) his got so bad he had full dentures at 4 or 5 and then later when his teeth came in he needed braces (his dad got them for him) and he had good teeth for awhile but now he has trouble all the time again (just had 2 pulled 2 weeks ago) and he brushes good and all that, but i think it can be hereditary, my dad had great teeth and so do my brother and I (i am 34 and just last year found out I have my first 2 cavities)