Are We a Hillbilly Family? Help Desperately Needed.

I really think it's genetics. I've seen kids who never brush, eat candy all day and never get cavities.

Yes-if they aren't extracted they will begin to rot the tooth buds of the second teeth that are already in place.

Based on my personal experience, get a second opinion. I've found some dentists are not very honest.

My daughter, when she was also 4 yrs. old had this happen, too. However, the dentist pulled out __7__ teeth. We were told she had "soft teeth" or "soft enamel". I guess she inherited (if that's possible) from me, as I've always had problems with mine. We didn't allow sodas, had milk during the day and brushed afterwards at night, etc.... Don't feel too bad; things like this happen. My daughter is now 9, and her teeth are awesome except for one. She will probably need braces, but many kids do.

As for your question, well, yes, sometimes a 4 yr. old does need it. Besides, they are baby teeth and if all works well with brushing & flossing, he won't need any more pulled....

*a bit of advice - when they do get pulled, please don't make a big deal about it. You don't want him to be self conscious about it. My daughter had hers pulled a week before pre-k started, and you could tell. She was so matter-of-factly about it, that she never got teased. :) Kids are awesome! :)

I feel for you! I have 3 kids. 2 of them inherited my husbands weak enamel, the third has only has 3 small cavities his entire life and he's 8. So I know it is nothing we did or did not do. My third wasn't even 2 years old yet, 2 molars came in defective right from the get go and got cavities in them just months after coming in. My son has had practically every tooth "rebuilt" with several root canals, a crown and fillings in everything. My husband was the same way. His mom said it took everything to keep the teeth in his mouth. His adult teeth came in a lot stronger and from the looks of it my oldest's adult teeth are as well. We make sure we bring them in to the dentist regularly so we can catch anything before it becomes a problem. They even wave their extra charge for under 3 years old for our daughter because she's already having issues that have needed to be fixed (she's had other cavities besides the first 2).
You need to fight to keep those teeth in the mouth as long as you can! They can do baby root canals and crowns unless the damage is really that severe.
The thinking that "they are only baby teeth" is wrong and false. They need those teeth to help their jaw grow correctly, to help their adult teeth go where they are supposed to, they aid in speech. Some teeth, like the molars, they don't begin to loose until they are 12 or older. Those teeth stay in for a lot longer then you give them credit for when you think along the lines of "they are only baby teeth".
I would look for a second opinion if I were you and find a dentist that will save the teeth rather than just take them out. But if there is damage to the teeth you need to get it fixed because it can spread, cause damage to the adult teeth and can become infected, which is no fun..trust me..we've been there once (it wasn't our fault! there's a long story there!)

This calls for a second opinion! Preferably from a pediatric dentist.

Does he have a genetic issue? My boys had weak enamel on their baby teeth. It was nothing we did and their adult teeth are strong.

I have two kids with similar brushing/eating habits...one has never had a cavity, the other has had about 4 or 5. My dentist said it has to do with the acidity of the saliva (or something like that). He also has two kids and it's the same with his, one is prone to cavities, the other isn't.
Are you comfortable with your dentist? If you are, then I'd go with what he says. If not, get a second opinion.

Vitamin deficiency (womb if it is baby teeth). My mom had an undiagnosed Vitamin D/folic acid deficiency when she was pregnant with me and I had 5-12 cavities every visit (no pop, candy only at Halloween).

Or genetics.

And all dentists are not created equal. First dentist told me my son had urgent issues and I needed to schedule an appointment that would require anesthesia. Then she threatened to call CPS when I didn't come back. Got a 2nd opinion, he had 2 tiny little pits in the enamel and they filled them easily in their office, no anesthesia needed.

Friends of ours have a daughter the same age who has the several cavities, same situation - no soda, no candy, no sticky stuff, good about brushing, but still has had a number of cavities. They blame genetics and soft enamel that she inherited from her dad.

I would get a second opinion though about having them extracted, vs. being filled.

Some of it depends on habits from early on..... did he go to bed with a bottle of juice or formula? If so, then the sugars from the formula or juice will sit in his mouth and encourage the decay. Even nursing to sleep can leave him with breastmilk in his mouth.

Anything with sugars (fruit, carbohydrates, etc) can help cause decay. Also raisins, which tend to be a big toddler snack, can really cause problems because they are sticky, also.

As others have said, however, genetics does play a part....

I would definitely go for a second opinion. We had a highly recommended dentist first look at my daughter and told us she had multiple cavities and when we took her to our family dentist she did not have any. I would just check it out then go with the recommendation.

If the dentist says they have to go you can be sure it's the last option. They don't "want" to pull teeth, they want to "save" teeth.

Your child probably just has weak enamel. Some kids do. I did, my grand kids do. My daughter did.

Cavities have very little to do with what you eat or drink. I know people who eat nothing but candy and drink nothing but Koolaid and pop. They have perfect teeth and never even brush them. They have thick enamel.

So don't worry so much about "How did this happen", it happened because the enamal was weak and the teeth decayed.

Is this their first dental visit? That's kind of old if it is. That may be where a mistake was made...IF any at all. You sound like you take good care of the teeth. An earlier appointment when they were a toddler "might" have made a difference, maybe not.

My grandson got multiple fillings due to cavities but he eats like a normal kid. I don't buy a lot of candy and stuff, we just can't afford it. He started going to the dentist at about 20 months old. The dentist kept an eye on a couple of teeth and they did get bad enough he wanted to clean the decay and fill them. So he went last fall and went to sleep, got all the work done, and was back in the room in about 45 minutes. By this time he was awake and ready to go eat.

Having the work done under anesthesia is so easy on the kids. It's harder on the adult than anything else. IV anesthesia is the best way to go. They do it all within a few minutes, give them a minimal dose, they go to sleep, don't remember anything, wake up with no side effects.

Gas tends to have a bad "trip" experience on little kids. They come out of it disoriented and crazed. They are often terrified and shaking. I would never have a little kid do the gas anesthesia again if I have any say whatsoever. The surgeon who did my grandson's ear tubes used gas anesthesia and it was horribly scary for this little guy. I could smell the anesthesia each breath he took for about half an hour. He was still screaming but it did quickly wear off.

Anyway, let the doc do the fillings on your child under general anesthesia and it will be much easier on your child. That's what almost all pediatric dentists will do anyway. It's is so much better for everyone.

You said you are "not great" at brushing his teeth, so of course this can happen. You only get one set of teeth your entire life. You need to teach him that brushing at LEAST twice per day and flossing is a priority and regular cleanings at the dentist. Then he won't be traumatized by going to the dentist and having so many issues with his teeth. Good luck.

Don't let anyone tell you this is your fault. I've seen kids/adults that hardly ever brush their teeth and their teeth are perfect. I've also seen kids/adults that brush and floss and use fluoride rinses three times a day that have terrible teeth with cavities and rotting. Genetics are the main factor in teeth. He probably has soft teeth and you'll have to super diligent from now on in taking care of them. I would also go for a second opinion before doing anything major like pulling his teeth. Ask around and find someone everyone says is really good. Good luck and PLEASE don't blame yourself or let anyone else blame you. :)

I think a lot of it has to do with genetics! I am not into that stuff so I don't know for sure but I have had terrible problems with my teeth my whole life. Brush, floss daily and constantly have issues. My husband doesn't do as much as i do and he has perfect teeth...

Don't freak out! But yes it sometimes goes that way.

Some people just have "bad" teeth, and all the prevention and care in the world won't change it just slow the process. Some people have really great teeth even though they take little to no care for them. I am going to assume that your son might just have "bad" teeth.

I agree that it wouldn't hurt to get a second opinion about the extractions, just for your peace of mind. If he had x-rays done, see if you can use those so he doesn't need them a second time.

Also, just to make you feel better, it really could be genetics. My husband often forgets to brush before bed, and couldn't even tell you where we keep the floss. He always gets rave reviews at the dentist. Meanwhile, I use a sonicare, Act rinse, and floss, and always get the 'you really need to work on taking care of your teeth' speech and have had to have dental work. Seriously not fair!!

Good luck to you and your little guy.

It really depends on why they want to extract them. I say if they aren't bothering him, no need to pull them. If they start bothering him, then okay. But they are going to fall out on their own in the next year or two anyway.

BTW, some people just have bad teeth. I have never been a candy or soda person. Brushed teeth every day and yet I only have about 10 of my teeth left. My sisters are the same way; my mom had complete dentures when she was in her early 30's.

Once a day brushing for a child is totally acceptable. Often we are born with faulty pits in our teeth that are bound to decay if not caught, sealed and or filled. Did your dentist mention faulty pits? Are you good at brushing the gum line not the teeth? don't let people make you feel bad. Faulty pits are actually super common. But by all means get a second opinion. I went to my father (a dentist) to save some money from my regular dentist and his friend dentist also looked at my teeth and you know there were three opinions about what to do with my mouth!!!!! And you think dentistry is cut and dry. Guess not.

It is well known that it's mostly genetics. Another reason this can happen is if your child had a very high fever when they were very young .The enamel on the forming teeth is then softer and more prone to cavities. It's not fair.

Hillbilly? Haven't heard that word in a coon's age!

Well, you can always get a second opinion.

But some people just have more difficult teeth than others. One of my granddaughters has had more teeth filled in her six years than either of her older sisters have had put together. The dentist says it's something she inherited from somebody.

Go back to your dentist and pick his/her brains. Get all the info you can. If learning to clean the teeth properly will not solve the problem, there is something more serious going on. Find out, and don't be embarrassed for yourself or for your son. It may be that your boy needs those teeth out in order for the others to grow properly. That's a whole different ball game.

You could get a 2nd opinion. Our five year old had 5 cavities. We were shocked too. We now floss every day and brush twice a day.

I would get a second opinion to ensure that this HAS to happend.

If nothing else, could they at least keep the two front teeth IN?

Well, I don't know how this happened. Could be that he just has soft teeth but then again maybe the dentist is a shyster (sp) there are lots of them unfornately. I'd get a second opinion. How bad are they that he wants to pull them? He isn't sick from it or anything, right.

My husband has been ripped off more than a couple times from dentists. My mother took my brother in when he was 5 and she didn't know he had snuck a oreo cookie and ate it in the car. The dentist said he had a mouthful of cavaties. My mother didn't know what to think and said she'd think about it. When they got home my dad looked and said that looks like cookie to me, go brush your teeth. Sure enough it was just cookie and no cavaties. Our family has been very forunate as we all have strong teeth. I have nine brothers and sisters and only a few of us have ever had cavaties or anything (and the youngest of us is in her late 40's) My husband is just the opposite.

Your son may need more vitamins and minerals, you may want to find a quality supplement for him and give it regularly. Vitamin C will help a lot too.

SECOND OPINION!!!!!!
yes, people have weak enamel and unfortunately some kids are just prone to cavities. my son's GF takes impeccable care of her teeth, but genetics dictate that the poor girl is just prone to endless issues.
but i took my son to a dentist about 10 years ago who said he had 3 cavities. something about him set off my spidey-sense, so i made an appointment with our current dentist who said the kid's teeth were perfect. he's never needed a filling in his whole life.
definitely get this checked out before you proceed, hillbilly mama!
khairete
S.

why does he want to pull two teeth? Are they very badly decayed? If they are, then yes, have hem pulled, but if they are not, why do they need to be pulled? It seems that you are really surprised by this, which to me, sounds like his teeth look fine, but the dentist says otherwise. I would get a second opinion.

My mother, now 71 years old, had a full set of dentures by the time she was 21!

DON"T FREAK!

Now having said that, she was the middle child of 5, which were boom, boom, boom. As she puts it, if one got candy they all got candy. One of her sisters, now 73, has only been to the dentist maybe 12 times in her entire life!!

I think there is a certain amount we can control and a certain amount we cant.

I also agree with another poster to get another opinion, just in case.

Genetics.
I had teeth extracted when I was a kid because of crowding. Never had a cavity in my life.
You will probably have better luck with his adult teeth anyways.

When I was young if you had cavities they filled them and never pulled baby teeth, now they don't do it that way. They now fill cavities in teeth that come on in a year or two. Get one or two more opinions though. I have 8 kids, all grown, and not one of them had one cavity until gone from home for years. The dentist told me genetics, diet of child, diet of pregnant mother and brushing teeth all play a role in this. My kids didn't have much candy and pop, ate balanced good meals, etc. They brushed their teeth well too. So it could be any thing causing it but get a couple of other opinions before you pull teeth.

Don't panic!

Sugar is NOT the only thing that causes cavities!

~My oldest had VERY crowded teeth and the dentist told us that his teeth were just squeezed in SO tight that everywhere his teeth touched would develop a cavity eventually...and he was right! We did what we could by 'shaving' down and in between all his front teeth to protect those (had this done almost every time he went to the dentist from the time he was 2 until he started loosing them) but eventually 2 of his molars developed cavities and they put a silver crown on them, poor kid!

Others are correct, it's mostly genetic and teeth/jaw structure....but with that being said, if you *know* your child is prone to squished teeth flossing is a MUST!

There are many conditions which can cause the enamel to be very soft, (enamel hypoplasia) and ir can be really easy for cavities to form - I would recommend getting sealants - AS SOON as his adult teeth start to come through.
It could be baby bottle decay - if he sucks on a binkie, or a sippie cup, or a bottle at bedtime, milk has lots of naturally occurring sugars, which if left on the teeth for a while can easily cause decay. this usually occurs in the front teeth - which teeth are affected?
He could be a grinder.

Most dentists have great honest work ethics, but some (very few) are crooks. You can look
I am a dental hygiene student, so while I don't know "all" I do know more than a lay person.

Brushing is definitely not the be all and end all, it is usually a combination of habit and genes that causes early decay like this. Get some fluoride rinse, and even if you don't brush his teeth properly at least he will have that extra fluoride boost.

I have heard that the health of your teeth is genetic. I'm not "great" at brushing my teeth - I do EVERY morning and most nights. I never floss :/ I know I know.......... my teeth are white and I've never even had 1 cavity. But that being said, if his genetics are playing a role already I'd say get him brushing his teeth more than once per day for SURE.

My youngest son brushes his teeth better than my oldest and the youngest has had more problems with his teeth than his brother. Part of it is genetics and part is luck. Don't stress about it too much!

I'd get a second opinion with a pediatric dentist. Make sure that the xrays are sent over.

You need to know why your child has these troubles. Does he have soft teeth? (Not enough enamel?) Could it be genetics? Call your city water people and give them your address, and ask if indeed there is fluoride in the water. Sometimes part of the city has it and the other part doesn't.

Have you had any sealants put on his teeth? Those help.

I'd really weigh hard on the decision to pull teeth rather than fill cavities. You may end up having to get spacers, and even if you don't, braces may be on your horizon...

So sorry!
Dawn

Milk! It will actually eat concrete. Make sure he brushes after drinking milk. My husband worked for a dairy farm when he was in High School and he tells me of the affects of milk all the time.
But don't be too hard on yourself it could just be your kids baby teeth are not healthy and strong.
Prayers for you and your son!

At 4 years old he should be brushing twice a day. And since most 4 year olds aren't great brushers you might want to brush them yourself once a day and let him do the other brushing. That way you know they're getting brushed well at least once a day and he gets to practice doing it once a day. I also recommend the sonicare for kids. My kids love it and it's really helped them learn how long they should brush for. Again the milk dies contain a lot of "milk sugar" called lactose. At the very least he should drink water it rinse his mouth after drinking milk. As for pulling the teeth, that sounds a bit extreme unless they are so decayed that it could cause other health issues. After all kids start loosing teeth around age 5 so they'll be falling out soon anyway right? I'd get a second opinion for a pediatric dentist.

If your dentist didn't tell you 4 things that were "wrong" with what you wrote in this question then you need a new dentist.
1) You're not "safe" just because you don't have a lot of sugar or coke. In fact, EVERYTHING---seriously, EVERYTHING---that you eat turns to glucose (sugar). So eating a healthy apple, or the brownest rice, or anything else, a carrot, anything healthy that you're eating will turn to a form of sugar (some are healthier, some are not...some have nutrients, some do not, but they can all produce cavities if you're prone to that).
2) You have to GET great at brushing his teeth. It's not an option. It just has to be done. My kids can't get dressed until they brush their teeth. My theory is why put them in clean clothes that might get toothpaste or water on them...and it's also a really great reminder that teeth need to be cleaned. Oh, you're not dressed.....which means we still need to brush teeth too.
3) HE isn't supposed to brush his teeth at this age. PARENTS brush teeth at this age. I've talked to my own pediatric dentist, and a different pediatric dentist spoke at our MOPS club meeting one day, and I also read an article in Parents magazine once: all 3 said that a child doesn't really have the dexterity to properly brush his teeth alone until about the time he's writing cursive. What we started doing with our children was this: they can "brush" their teeth first. Then, it's my turn and I do a full brushing afterwards.
4) Not only should he get his teeth brushed properly AT LEAST TWICE a day (not once a day), he should be able to use toothpaste with flouride, and you can floss or use one of those toothpick looking things (you can either get this from the dentist or in the toothpaste aisle at Walmart) to clean in between teeth (that's a mommy job, not a kid job). An option, if you want, would be to even purchase that stuff in the toothbrush/toothpaste aisle, that you swish and spit, and it will color your teeth to show you where you've missed until you can get the brushing technique down.
5) I'm not a doctor or dentist, so I'm not an expert, but something we do in our house because it just makes sense in my mind: more calcium rich foods? More than just dairy (milk, yogurt, cheese)...Salmon, tofu, sardines, rhubarb, spinach, collard or turnip greens, okra, white beans, baked beans, broccoli, peas, almonds, etc. and also choose calcium fortified foods/drinks when you see them. Like, we drink orange juice....and we could choose "regular" Minute Maid OJ, or we could get the one that says "calcium fortified for kids" in a little blue label. Why not? Calcium is supposed to help build strong bones, and teeth are bones, so that makes sense to us. For ages 4-8, the suggested amount is 800mg a day.
I'm not trying to be a jerk, and yeah genetics plays S O M E part in oral health, but you said you're not great at brushing teeth, that it gets done once a day, and that a 4 year old is brushing his own teeth. There are some real changes that should be made in habits.