Tooth Decay in baby?

My 1 1/2 year old has white stains on his teeth as well as a little chipping on one of his front teeth.





He hates his teeth brused and I have to him all the time but I don't get to clean them well.





Plus he wont get off the bottle.





After looking at his teeth today, I'm scared his teeth are going to rot.





Is there any way to reverse the process or will a dentist help his teeth?





I'm weaning him off the bottle today straight cold turkey.


He has an emotional tie to his bottle but his teeth are more important.





Any advice?

Tooth Decay in baby?
"Is there any way to reverse the process or will a dentist help his teeth?"





To be blunt, no. Once the damage is done, you can not reverse it. You can however, treat it and work hard to prevent future damage to his teeth.





Excessive use of the bottle and or sippy cup filled with juice or milk can be damaging to his teeth. And although these are baby teeth, the first ones won't start coming out until around age 5+ and the baby molars may not come out till as late as 12 years, hence it is imperative to see a dentist to evaulate what if any decay is present and have the teeth restored. If left untreated, the decay could enter the nerve chamber and result in an abscess and possible root canal therapy.





"He hates his teeth brused and I have to him all the time but I don't get to clean them well". My boss(a pediatric dentist) would say to you- would you rather have him give you are hard time when you brush his teeth, or have him cry in the dental chair having a cavity filled?





The best way to prevent dental decay is :


-diet (limit sugar foods %26amp; drinks)


-hygiene (brush and floss)


-visit dentist every 6 months
Reply:You should take your child immediately to a pediatrician and have the tooth problem resolved. He/she can make the appropriate suggestions and/or referrals to help your child with this dilemna. Peace, Love and God Bless.
Reply:when the milk or the formula pools in the cheek of the mouth(usually when they are asleep) it causes decay. but you child a tooth paste that is kid friendly usually in flavors and try to make it seem fun. also it always helps if you praise them when there done. my nephew loves it when i praise him. AND of course get him to a dentist.
Reply:I would see a doctor just in case because there could be something wrong like a fungush or bacteria growth.


But, you do need to remember these are the baby teeth, so they will fall out eventually anyway and are more sensitive, but you need to make sure to have him brush his teeth. The way you brush them now and until he can do it himself, will greatly effect how he brushes them himself.. But, like I said you should go see a doctor, because if it is a bacteria or fungus then it could also effect the growth of his adult teeth.





As far as getting him off the bottle cold turkey, make sure that you are more gentle about it then that. Maybe take it down to one meal a day at first he gets his bottle, give him a good sippy cup, and make sure you dont give into letting him have his bottle more then once a day. Eventually take it down to every other day and then maybe once a week until not at all.


Taking something from a child like that, that they are attached to can have some effects that you really dont want to see. But all in all that is your decision.





good luck!
Reply:sounds like bottle rot . Do you let him sleep with a bottle at night / The milk sits on the teeth and rots them . If he wont let you brush his teeth they make mouthwash fro kids in all kinds of diff. flavors , not really the best thing ,but it will help . also every time he drinks have him drink water and spit it out make it like a game like a water fountain in front of the mirror . you do it first he will follow.
Reply:You need to brush his teeth more often, start taking away privileges like tv and toys when he won't let you brush them. You should also start teaching him to brush his teeth. Good luck coming cold turkey off the bottle - that sounds pretty harsh.
Reply:It would be best to consult the pediatrician and/or dentist for recommendations. Does he sleep with the bottle? This can cause bottle mouth, or rotten teeth. Some children have had to have their teeth removed because the decay was so advanced and they were painful. If he still wants the bottle let him have it, so he's not going off cold turkey, but put water in it. He needs to let you brush and he needs to be learning to do it on his own. Have him join you when you brush. Get one of the kid brushes that plays music. Good luck.
Reply:Sucking on a bottle all the time can damage his baby teeth and sometimes the adult teeth below the gums. Try giving just water in his bottle. The sugar in juices are horrible for a baby's teeth. Get him to a dentist too. They have dentist who specialize in children. Have also seen videos that turning brushing teeth into a song or game--that might help.
Reply:You may let him have an occasional bottle; but only with clear water. And yes; a trip to the Dentist may help. At this age you may want to sit in the chair and hold the baby in your lap. By the age of three, he should sit alone.