A lot of parents complain about their children’s teeth being "weak" and as practitioners, we have figured out that could mean many things. Maybe the child suffers from extensive tooth decay. Perhaps their teeth are discolored, or the teeth fall out early. Some conditions genuinely cause a toddler's teeth of a toddler to be weak, while other cases are caused by neglect and improper care.
1. Poor oral hygiene
Tooth decay is extremely common among children all around the world. This is particularly true in children between the ages of about three and six, since that is the time they are not able to take proper care of their oral hygiene.
Baby teeth are covered with a thinner layer of enamel compared to permanent teeth, so decay also spreads faster in young children.
Most parents who complain that their child's teeth are "weak" — and thus get decayed easily — are themselves to blame for their little ones' dental woes. A toddler cannot be expected to take care of his or her oral hygiene alone and needs to be taught the proper oral hygiene methods just like they need to learn how to eat, walk, read, or anything else.
The use of fluoride varnish, pit and fissure sealants, and/or fluoride toothpaste are all things that will help protect the teeth and make them "stronger" in the fight against tooth decay.
2. Enamel hypoplasia
The three different calcified layers of the teeth — called enamel, dentin, and cementum — all have to be formed correctly for properly-functioning, strong, teeth. A lack of calcification in any of these layers is going to fundamentally make the teeth weak and cause them to fall out early.
Some of the other things that may be visible in these cases include:
- Teeth that are very soft
- Improperly formed teeth
- Teeth that snap off quickly
- Teeth that are acutely sensitive to temperature changes
The treatment of enamel hypoplasia can depend on the severity of the condition. In mild cases, a few fillings, root canals or crowns should be enough, while in others the complete removal of all the teeth followed by replacements becomes necessary.
3. Poor nutrition and other environmental damage
The formation of the baby teeth takes place in vitro (in the womb) and thus the nutrition that a mother receives is of prime importance. It is essential that the mother receives an adequate amount of calcium, phosphorus, and other minerals during pregnancy. A well-balanced diet is enough to ensure normal formation of the teeth, but that may not always happen in low-income groups or rural populations that follow outdated norms of care.
Any damage to the environment around the developing fetus can also result in decalcified areas in the baby teeth. A maternal illness during pregnancy, drug use, physical injury caused by a fall or an accident, exposure to radiation, or certain prescription drugs can all result in alteration of the tooth formation process.
The time during which this environmental disturbance occurs will co-relate to the baby teeth that are being formed at that time. Since different baby teeth are formed during different times, it is not likely that all the teeth will be affected.
Poorly formed and pitted teeth will also accumulate more plaque than other teeth and so require a higher level of oral care than normal. There is nothing to say that the permanent teeth of a child will also be affected in the same way as the primary teeth, since they develop after childbirth.
Conclusion
Many parents feel their child has structurally weak teeth, but it is only true for a small percentage of them. Most commonly it is poor oral hygiene that results in decayed primary teeth. If your dentist does conclude that your child has weak teeth, remember that the one thing you can do to prevent the problem from worsening is to keep strict oral hygiene and be regular with your visits for follow-up checks.