Any ideas?

Tonight when I was helping Macie brush her teeth, I noticed some black in her back molar. So I brushed extra hard and it didn't come off. It bugged me, so I looked again at all her molars, and all four of her back ones have black but it doesn't come off with a toothbrush or toothpick....she could not have four cavities, could she? Wouldn't she be telling me it hurts to eat? We brush every night and morning and I can't believe I wouldn't have noticed before, but like I said it won't come off which makes me think it's not food. My mom said she had lots of gumdrops including purple and black, but if it was from them it would have come off.

I just can't believe I wouldn't have noticed, or that she could have four cavities when we brush twice a day.

Do cavaties necessarily hurt? I think I have one and it doesn't hurt at all.

I would take her to the dentist if it doesn't come off.

not sure here either but i'd definitely take her to the dentist. keep us posted.

I don't know, I still haven't had one, I just always hear people saying certain foods or temperatures hurt b/c they have a cavity

I'm calling the dentist this morning, it bugged me all night trying to think of what it could be or how she could have cavities

does she take a vitamin or something she would have chewed with her back teeth and just swallowed? maybe its a stain?
iron can cause teeth to get black or a dark purple.

I saw that online last night, they all take a multi vitamin but they're gummies and have never left a residue like that before....I couldn't find a single picture online that looked like what she's got (including pictures of cavities) so I'm really hoping that isn't it.

it could be from the gum drops if you want to give it a few days to see if it fades.

I have had cavities in my life and they NEVER hurt. I would take her to the dentist just to make sure.

I'm taking her at 10 tomorrow morning.

Monica I'm curious to know what you find out. That's certainly strange for them to pop up all of a sudden like that. Most cavities in children are found between their teeth.

My kids have an appt on the 31st. I'm so not looking forward to it. I know they have cavities if they take after me. I have those deep crevices in my teeth...I have awful teeth. I hate it. Maddie is also going to need braces and possibly some oral surgery.

Sorry to rant in your thread.

Good plan. Olivia had an abessesd tooth at 4 and never had one ounce of pain. The tooth was not salvagable and had to be removed. She's 7 and has 2 cavities already. She got Daddy's CRAPPY teeth, unfortunately.

I'm VERY relieved to know that some kids get cavities in spite of brushing...I was starting to feel like a failure

You're not a failure, Mon. Cavities happen. Our dentist told us that most of it has to do with genetics...and how the teeth are shaped.

You're doing a great job. The good news is, if it is cavities, you are catching it early and her permanent teeth won't be damaged.

It all depends on the quality of your teeth. My SIL is in her early 30's, always brushed and had to have almost all of her upper teeth removed because they were in such bad shape - the dentist basically said she has really soft poor quality teeth and there's not much she could do about it.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed the girls get my teeth - I have never had a cavity in my life, despite poor brushing habits as a child.

It all depends on the quality of your teeth. My SIL is in her early 30's, always brushed and had to have almost all of her upper teeth removed because they were in such bad shape - the dentist basically said she has really soft poor quality teeth and there's not much she could do about it.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed the girls get my teeth - I have never had a cavity in my life, despite poor brushing habits as a child.

I'm 35 an no cavities, so TBH I don't even think about it much for the kids....guess I should

I was told this as well by 3 dentists and an orthodontist. I've had very little dental issues. I don't believe my poor husband has one unaltered tooth in his mouth. He is the king of dental hygenine and I'm the queen of dental neglect! It's just not fair. (just like most things genetic )

She could indeed have cavities on all four teeth without pain, especially if they aren't permanent teeth. Baby teeth have no nerve connection, therefore no pain. I'd take her to a dentist for sure!

Wow. You've peaked my interest. Let us know what it is. I'm sending you ***no cavities vibes***

We're getting ready to head out....wish me luck She's not the most cooperative, even when the dr just wants to look down her throat...I'm not really looking forward to this

Aw man, cavities The one I was most concerned about had actually started to abcess, they drilled a hole to drain it and she'll need to go back for a crown. (Or is it a cap? I'm confused, she needs one on one tooth and the other on another, as well as fillings in the top two molars.)

The dentist was fabulous, I'm very relieved, and Macie even said it was fun

She said cavities in kids are actually on the rise again b/c of all the chewy sweets that have become "staples", like fruit snacks and granola bars, they leave more residue that is harder to get off. We're supposed to rinse after eating and use a special toothpaste that you don't rinse, it's supposed to form a sealant of some kind for kids like her with deep crevices (like Aimee )

All in all, I still feel terrible that her teeth are in such bad shape and I didn't notice sooner but felt better when my mom, who watched her overnight last week, said she helped her brush her teeth and didn't notice either.

Bummer that the cavities are already starting. I don't buy the candy/gummy candy thing, though. We never have any of that around because Olivia doesn't like it and really never has, even as a little kid and still she's had cavities.

So glad Macie didn't have any fear at her appointment. It's amazing what they can do now to eliminate the fear and pain we associate with dentists. Olivia said the fillings, the tooth removal and the spacer were not really very painful at all. They give them pre numbing where they do the novicaine shot and it just barely pinches. The rest was nothing, according to O!!

She didn't even have to get a shot, since the tooth was already dead I'm glad to hear that for next time though since we'll be going back.

They told her she had a bug in her tooth, and today they'd get the poop out and next time get the bug out Sounded terrible to me but apparantly the kids like it

This dr has a strict policy against parents in the room during procedures...I wasn't sure how that was going to fly, they brought her to me about 10 minutes after I left the room and my first thought was she freaked out...nope, they were done!

I don't know about her theory either, b/c the twins have had all the junk you could imagine and still have no cavities.

This post has been edited by luvmykids on Jan 18 2008, 04:03 PM

She didn't even have to get a shot, since the tooth was already dead I'm glad to hear that for next time though since we'll be going back.

They told her she had a bug in her tooth, and today they'd get the poop out and next time get the bug out Sounded terrible to me but apparantly the kids like it

This dr has a strict policy against parents in the room during procedures...I wasn't sure how that was going to fly, they brought her to me about 10 minutes after I left the room and my first thought was she freaked out...nope, they were done!

I don't know about her theory either, b/c the twins have had all the junk you could imagine and still have no cavities.

After trying for years to get Erin past the waiting room door at our family dentist, he finally referred us to a pediatric dentist. The difference was astounding. He also had a no mommy and daddy in the exam room policy.

I'm sorry she has cavities but I'm glad she had such a good experience with the dentist! There's some people that get them even if they brush a million times a day so don't feel bad.

bummer. I was hoping it was left over black gumdrops. At least the visit went really well !