Caries is a common problem that occurs not only in adults, but also in children. The reasons for this phenomenon are many. Milk teeth often blacken, probably even after teething. Various factors lead to this phenomenon. Why a child’s milk teeth turn black, is described in the article.
Symptoms
Caries is an unpleasant phenomenon in which there is:
- discoloration and structure of the tooth;
- the occurrence of a carious cavity;
- dentin lesion;
- increase in sensitivity;
- the appearance of pain;
- the occurrence of halitosis.
These signs give an uncomfortable feeling. Timely treatment performed by a dentist will allow you to get rid of them and prevent complications.
Congenital defects of enamel
Teeth can erupt with dark spots, which indicates congenital pathologies of enamel. These violations are hereditary, but they can appear due to the features of the course of pregnancy.
The formation of enamel on the teeth occurs in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. Why does a child's milk teeth turn black after a while? This may be due to the following:
- a lack of calcium in the diet of a pregnant woman, an excess of fluoride and iron;
- past diseases;
- the use of certain medications.
Heredity also affects the teeth of children. She determines the composition of saliva, the structure of enamel and the predisposition to ailments. With endemic fluorosis, when there is an excess of fluoride in the body, black bands and spots appear on the teeth. Occasionally, blackness appears due to malfunctions in the metabolism of fluoride.
Early caries
Sometimes the cause of a baby’s milk teeth turning black is tooth decay. It develops due to the following reasons:
- enamel of deciduous teeth is more exposed to negative factors than permanent;
- in children under 3 years of age, saliva is worse resistant to the negative influence of microorganisms, from which pigment remains on the teeth, which leads to caries;
- oral hygiene not observed.
What other factors can explain why baby teeth turn black. Enamel darkening factors include:
- Frequent, unorganized feeding, especially at night. Caries is also called bottled, as long-term stay of the bottle in the mouth creates positive conditions for the development of harmful microorganisms. At night, children produce less saliva and it is more difficult to fight with germs. Because of this, nightly feeding is harmful.
- Failure by adults to the rules of personal hygiene. Many mothers lick spoons, bottles, baby's dummies, eat with him from the same spoon and consider it normal. So from the oral cavity of the parents, the microbes penetrate the baby’s mouth, and then caries is formed.
A large amount of sugar in the diet also negatively affects the condition of children's teeth. Black spots and stripes may appear on them.
Plaque
Another reason why baby teeth blacken in children can be a plaque, known as Priestley's nonspecific bacterial disease. But as the child grows, he can disappear without affecting the permanent teeth.
In adults, these bacteria are present in the healthy microflora of the mouth, but their number is smaller and they do not lead to pigmentation. This is due to the fact that as the child grows, the antiseptic effect of saliva increases, and this nuisance passes. Often, active reproduction is associated with a violation of the intestinal microflora.
It’s impossible to get rid of this plaque on your own - you need to go to the dentist. This type of bacteria is not considered harmful and is not the beginning of the development of caries. But even after the dentist has removed the plaque, there is a chance that blackness will appear again. Therefore, the need to clean it is determined with the parents.
In children and adults, black plaque appears due to the use of medications with iron or the constant drinking of water with its increased content. If these factors are excluded, then this unpleasant phenomenon disappears. In children, sometimes a yellow plaque occurs due to improper oral hygiene.
Other reasons
Dentists identify other causes of blackening of the teeth:
- Due to the strong impact, the vascular bundle inside the pulp is damaged. If after this a hematoma appears, the damaged tissues blacken due to the penetration of hemoglobin and other pigments into them.
- Inadequate absorption of calcium is considered to cause darkening of the teeth.
- Violation of metabolism also leads to rapid tooth decay.
- Darkening is observed due to chronic ailments of the digestive system, anemia, diabetes, leukemia.
Diagnostics
It is not necessary to independently determine the cause of dark teeth in a child. Also, do not wait for the color to be restored on its own. Even the doctor will not be able to determine the cause of the problem without examination.
He sets up an x-ray of a darkened tooth. A comforting fact of the examination will be if the tooth root in the picture shows a healthy structure. This means that the infection did not enter through the gum and tooth enamel was probably damaged by excess fluoride or inappropriate oral hygiene.
Treatment
If a child’s milk teeth turn black, what should I do? If the baby at 1 year old was prescribed antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs before the formation of milk processes, then the first front teeth can be almost completely black. In this situation, you need to see a doctor.
One of the treatment methods is silvering of teeth. This procedure is performed no earlier than 2 years. It is needed to apply an additional protective layer to the enamel. Treatment should be determined by the dentist. It usually takes into account the degree of damage. If the disease is an initial stage, then the treatment of milk teeth is performed without drilling devices. This technique is used if a healthy part of the tooth is not affected.
If the treatment is not effective, then the doctor can perform its removal. This is required to protect against the development of the disease and the appearance of complications.
Treatment methods
Dentists use the following treatments:
- Application of fluoride varnish to enamel. This method is used in the treatment of caries. It is prescribed for the first symptoms of the disease and when the filling of a painful tooth is not required.
- Enamel silvering. Silver nitrate is applied to it. This substance has good antibacterial properties and stops the development of the disease. The method is used on the milk processes, since the operation leads to darkening.
- Ozonation The action and application of this method is the same as with silvering. Ozone is used to eliminate pathogenic and harmful microbacteria. With this method, there is no dark coating.
- Remineralization. A special paste with fluorine, calcium and phosphorus is applied to painful places. They are required to strengthen and renew enamel.
- Fissure sealing. This is a modern method of treatment and prevention. The procedure is performed at any age, it is considered painless. The method involves applying a vitreous substance to the chewing surface of the teeth. This is required to provide the necessary protection against caries and physical damage.
- The use of a drill. The device is needed to repair damaged tooth tissue, and then the doctor performs a filling of the damaged area.
- Prosthetics. The method is used to correct malocclusion.
The use of anesthesia should not be a concern for parents. This method is rarely used for a short period of time.
Why go to the doctor?
Damage to milk molars occurs quickly. For 2-3 months, a child may lose 7-8 teeth. Some parents do not consider this dangerous, because by the age of 7 they fall out by themselves.
But it should be borne in mind that with the loss of the first molars earlier than the normative age, deformation of the jaw row and the formation of a malocclusion appear. And infections that penetrate deep into the wells cause the growth of weak and diseased teeth.
Black plaque on milk teeth is an alarming symptom that can confirm both inadequate oral care and probable diseases of the internal organs. Therefore, you need to urgently consult a dentist so that the child does not hesitate to smile.
Toothpastes
Dental care should be done with high-quality pastes. They provide reliable prevention of diseases of the oral cavity. There are some of the best toothpastes for children, suitable for daily use. To care for the oral cavity of a child must be taught from early childhood. The following oral hygiene products are especially suitable for this:
- Rocs Pro Kids. Used from 3 years. The paste contains 97% of natural substances. Due to its high calcium content, teeth are saturated with the necessary minerals, xylitol protects against tooth decay, and honeysuckle extract serves as a defense against gum disease. The product has a pleasant aroma and taste. Volume - 35 ml.
- "Funny little mouse BioRepair." The paste can be used from the first teeth to 13 years. It includes a unique formula with liquid enamel, which is similar in composition to natural tooth enamel. This strengthens them and protects against tooth decay. The tool allows you to eliminate microcracks and scratches, restores smoothness and prevents damage. The paste includes strawberry extract, which makes it fragrant and tasty. The volume is 50 ml.
- Children's Splat Baby Toothpaste. It can be used from birth to 3 years. The tool is recommended for the first teeth, as it eliminates gum disease and reduces painful sensitivity during teething. The cleaning base is similar to the composition of tooth enamel. Splat Baby toothpaste cleans from plaque without damaging the hard tissues of the teeth. Volume - 40 ml.
- White Edel 7 fruits. Used up to 6 years. The composition has an extract of green tea, which serves to protect the gums and to strengthen the teeth. Vitamin E and calcium are needed for healthy tooth growth and prevention of decay. In a small amount there is fluorine that protects against caries.
- "Dr. Hare" by Colgate. Pasta is used from 2 years. Includes a little fluorine, which serves as protection against the destruction of hard tissues and the negative effects of cariogenic bacteria. The pasta is produced with strawberry flavor.
- "Lacalut teens 8+." Used for formed teeth (from 8 years). It must be used as a prophylaxis and treatment. The product is presented in the form of a transparent gel with microcapsules, it has a mint-citrus taste. The composition contains fluoride, saturating the enamel with minerals, as well as protecting against caries.
- Hello Kitty Crest Stages. Used for children 2-6 years old. For enamel preservation, the fluorine content and abrasiveness are reduced. The composition has active components that protect against caries. Hello Kitty paste has a beneficial effect on the gums, preventing their inflammation. Presented in the form of a gel with a pleasant taste and aroma.
Prevention
Blackening of teeth is easier to prevent than to treat tooth decay. To do this, you must adhere to preventive measures:
- Parents should not lick nipples, soothers, baby cutlery.
- Do not put your fingers in your mouth, checking how your child’s teeth grow. It is also important to ensure that the baby does not push fingers in his mouth and does not bite his nails.
- Gradually, you need to abandon night feeding.
- Mugs and spoons of the child should be washed and stored separately from adult dishes.
- Twice a day, you need to clean the oral cavity of the child. If there is no special paste, then rinse your mouth with water or chamomile infusion.
- It is necessary to reduce the amount of sweets, it is better to eat raw fruits, cottage cheese, fish dishes.
- The concentrated juices of pomegranate, cranberry, citrus should be diluted with water.
- Every quarter you need to go to the dentist and carry out treatment.
Thus, the blackness of the teeth in a child occurs for various reasons. But in any case, this phenomenon is unpleasant, therefore, requires timely treatment. And only a doctor should prescribe it.