thread: Blackish looking tooth on 3 yr old

  1. #1
    Registered User

    May 2008
    Melbourne
    1,838

    Blackish looking tooth on 3 yr old

    I've just noticed that one of my DS1 (3yr old) top front teeth has started to discolour

    How and why would this have happened?

    He is yet to have his first dental visit but i will be making him an appointment right now.

    He brushes his teeth morning and night and has since a very young age. He is a thumb sucker though, could this have something to do with it?

  2. #2
    BellyBelly Life Subscriber

    Feb 2006
    melbourne
    11,462

    has he knocked it at some stage??
    if its going black then its probably died, the nerves in baby teeth are very close to the surface and damage easily, id definaly take him to the dentist

  3. #3

    Jul 2009
    Australia
    5,102

    My DP's eldest nephew has that same problem. He doesnt have enamel on his teeth so they were always discoloured maybe that could be what your DS has.

    DP had the same trouble as a kid they had to put enamel on his teeth every couple of years, hes since neglected to do that and so hes teeth are weak and has had to have a few pulled... wont listen to me and get enamel on them.. nevermind.. his mouth

    ETA: He could have knocked it, my mum bumped one of her front teeth a few times as a kid and eventually the nerves died and made her tooth look black/discoloured.

  4. #4
    Registered User

    Jan 2005
    Down by the ocean
    6,110

    A has one very discoloured tooth (and one missing...) and he had a severe fall onto his mouth when he was 18 months old. They didn't start discolouring till he was about 3 too.

    So another opinion that it could be from being knocked

  5. #5
    Registered User

    May 2008
    Melbourne
    1,838

    I suppose the only likely explination is that he's knocked it but i'm not aware of it. I can't recall any incident involving his mouth and lots of tears. I assume it would have been a knock that hurt him

    Raven if it can take some time to discolour like you describe this may have happened some time ago also. Is this something they'll just leave until his baby teeth decide to fall out? Is it painful for them when biting?

    I just called a dentist and they have kids checks at a special time each week so i'll take him for a check and then get advice from there.

    It makes me sad, i know it's just one of those things that can happen with children but still...

  6. #6
    BellyBelly Life Subscriber

    Feb 2006
    melbourne
    11,462

    hun treatment varies, from leaving it be until it falls out or treating the nerve, similar to a root canel but much simpler, you need to be on the look out for pimple on the gum above the tooth which indicated infection.

    BBL... sorry babe crying...

  7. #7
    Registered User

    May 2008
    Melbourne
    1,838

    Oh no i don't want this for my little man. I have this horrible fear of the dentist but i'll have to get over it for the sake of the boys, i don't want the same for them.

    Thanks for the info girls, i'll let you know about the advice i get from the dentist.

  8. #8
    Lucy in the sky with diamonds.

    Jan 2005
    Funky Town, Vic
    7,070

    Don't lose hope yet! DD bumped into DS on the trampoline and 3 weeks later her tooth started going grey - I was heartbroken!
    One of the other mums (whose boy had a bad mouth incident and lost one totally) said not to panic yet because it might be ok. When her boy hurt himself one came out, the other went dark but seemed to recover.

    And that's exactly what happened to DD! After a few months it's ok again, the right colour came back and you can only tell if you look really really hard.

    hth

  9. #9
    Registered User

    Jan 2009
    5,235

    As alread said - I would guess he's bumped it fairly solidly and the root has died. If it's only a baby tooth, which at 3 it would be, it will just fall out normally when it's time, or the new tooth coming through will push it out.

  10. #10
    BellyBelly Life Subscriber

    Feb 2006
    melbourne
    11,462

    dont stress hun and certainly dont let him know or see that you dont like the dentist!! its the worst thing you can do!! he'll be fine!! as lucy said most go on and have no problems, like i said just look out for a pimple on the gum above the tooth

  11. #11
    Registered User

    May 2008
    Melbourne
    1,838

    So it would have to be a fairly solid bump to do this? I can't recall anything but DH said all he can think of is when he had a fall outside late last year (????? I wasn't there) and he did seem to go face first. How soon would it appear?

    I was having a close look and the tip of his tooth isn't fully discoloured yet, i would say 3/4 of it is though. I can see it from the back of his tooth also. No little pimply thing from what i can see though Olive.

    Lulu you have given me a slight feeling of hope to know that it can reverse itself

    Olive i definately don't want the boys to have my fear

    Thanks ladies

  12. #12
    Registered User

    May 2008
    Melbourne
    1,838

    I took DS to the dentist yesterday and with the tiny amount that he would open his mouth to show the dentist he seems to think it's all fine. Nothing we can do about it but keep an eye out for infection (like you lovely ladies advised) and it may or may not fall out sooner than expected. He said it would have happened as a result of a bump and it may have happened a year ago or a week ago.

    It's a bit sad to think he's got a black tooth when i take photos of his beautiful grin from now on but the main thing it's only a baby tooth.

    Thanks for all your advice