2 year old with broken tooth....

[mommytolittlelilly]

Hi all.

My little girl has one tooth, next to the top front, that's had a big brown spot on the back of it for a long time. I took her to see a dentist back in April, and he said it just looked like a stain and not a cavity, since there was nothing soft about it. We also night nurse, maybe 3-4 times a night. He said I'm doing right by brushing her teeth with just water in the morning and before bedtime. He does not recommend fluoridated toothpaste until a child learns how to spit it out.

Last week I noticed a tiny hole in the front of this same tooth, like say as if the enamel scratched off in one spot (not discolored though). I thought, Ok, better keep an eye on that. Well, the night before last I noticed that a big chunk of that tooth has broken off!!

My dentist is on vacation until next week, and since my daughter does not seem to be in pain, I'm thinking I should wait until next week rather than seeing someone new and untried.

What do you all think? I just can't believe this, I've been trying *so hard* to keep her teeth healthy.

[Mama Coltrane]

We have the same situation here and are seeing a dentist. Our DS is 2 and has three chipped teeth in the front. The back of the teeth are brownish, but the front look fine ( besides being chipped ). We brush them 2-3 times a day now . At least one of those is with fluoride. I think topical fluoride in small amounts isn't so bad. We use a rice size amount or less. Sometimes I put the fluoride on the teeth with my finger so it goes right to the spot it needs to go to. We also use Xylitol topically once or twice a day. We go to the dentist every 2 months for a check up on the teeth . DS has had one topical fluoride treatment in office. I don't worry too much about too much fluoride because we drink well or spring water with absolutely no floride in it.
Ummm- at first the dentist suggested general anesthesia and caps, etc. , but we decided after doing some research that we could hold out a bit. We look for any sign of pain, sensitivity, infection ,abcess and there has'nt been any. We are holding out as long as possible. I do not want to do GA at this young age.
Anyway, taking it day by day.

[mommytolittlelilly]

Thanks for your input. I'm starting to put a tiny amount of Tom's of Maine toothpaste on that one tooth.

[aimeemac]

Hi.
I have a 2.5 year old who chipped her front tooth and has a tiny bit of brown developed. The dentist prescribed topical fluoride and the decay has not progressed in 4 months. I am very wary and researched this topic extensively and found this to be the best option, not the most perfect one (in my opinion perfect would be no fluoride and pearly white teeth ) In the future, if we feel it is necessary, the dentist can use a minimal amt. of anesthesia while trying to fill the decay....we are lucky to have a great dentist who listens and cares. I would just keep a close eye on it and do what you have been. There is a great yahoo group called "alternative kids teeth", they have lots of great info.