Milk teeth removal

[loggy01]

My daughter had to have one milk teeth filled and now two weeks later the dentist says she has a infection in it and that the tooth has died and needs removing. I am mortified that this has happened as we clean her teeth thoroughly morning and night and limit the amount of sugar in her diet.

Is it common for teeth to die like this. Also will her next teeth come through any earlier because of the removal. It is a molar that is being removed.

My friend seems to think that it is just the luck of the draw with teeth and that she had heard of milk teeth dying.

[andy-hughes]

Milk teeth have no roots, so their loss is not serious, and it is probably just unfortunate that this has happened.

More important is the establishment of good dental hygene and regular visits, which you obviously have in place.

If you are worried about your daughter's second teeth, have a word with your dentist and ask advice in protecting her teeth before and after they arrive.

[loggy01]

Thanks for the answer, you learn something everyday, I didn't realise that they had no roots. What keeps the milk teeth in place in the gum? Is their removal a fairly straightforward procedure.

[B00]

According to Wikipedia Milk teeth DO have roots.

The erupting permanent teeth causes root resorption, where the permanent teeth push down on the roots of the deciduous (milk) teeth causing the roots to be dissolved and become absorbed by the forming permanent teeth.

[Neenee]

Hi Loggy

My daughter is going into a day clinic next tuesday to have six of her molars removed.

Like you, we were absolutely moritfied!!!! and always ensure that her teeth are brushed and cleaned each morning and night without fail... and we try (as much as we can) to stop her having too maky sugary things, like yourself.

The more people i have spoken to since we have known about my daughter the more common it seems. I know of a number of children that have had anything from 2,4,6 teeth removed.

I'm absolutely dreading next tuesday as my daighter has to go in and be aneasthetised as she needs six out!!

My daughter kept on getting abseces, and was really in a lot of pain, and once that happens , the dentist generally decides that the teeth have to come out..... although i dont seem to remember it being like that in my days.

My nephew however, had teeth extradcted when he was younger, and now his second teeth are excellent. He hasnt any fillings in them and at 14 years of age i think thats good going, Where as my elder nephe had better milk teeth and yet has 2 fillings in his second teeth.

[ktlou]

Just a question loggy01 - does your daughter drink from a bottle or sippy cup regularly or use straws?? This can direct the stream of whatever she is drinking (and unless it's water it will still have some form of sugar in it) onto a particular tooth so cause it to decay at a fast rate. Also, when she eats does she keep her food in her mouth for a long time (particularly fruit or sweets)? Again, this can cause a faster rate of decay of the teeth! B00 is right about milk teeth having roots but it shouldn't be too bad for her having it removed. Depending on her age, she may not even need to have it numbed by an injection - they may just use some cream and then pull it out.
The other thing as well that most people don't realise is that brushing straight after eating (either breakfast or dinner or even a drink before bed or something) can actually damage the teeth very quickly. It takes half an hour after food/drink for the saliva in your mouth to get back to it's normal levels in order to fight against sugar and bacteria. If you brush your teeth during this half hour you can delay this and allow any residing sugars in your mouth to decay the teeth (hope that all makes sense!!)

[loggy01]

Thanks for your answer ktlou, I feel awful now as she does have a straw with her Nesquik milk in the morning and last thing at night. Interesting to hear about brushing teeth straight after meals as well. Thank you.

[lilacben]

Hi this is strange because the other week my granddaughter,6,had to have on of her baby teeth pulled out. it was a double one at the bottom.The dentist gave her an injection but she said she still felt it but he just said she couldnt and pulled it out. it had a root to it., and didnt look like there was anything wrong with it. It had beenfilled but she had a toothache and the dentist said she had an abcess under it. Poor little thing was shaking like a leaf when she got home and was indeed in pain. She now has the same tooth on the other side filled, just hope it just comes out on its own.