Frequently Asked Questions

My daughter is turning three on tuesday. I noticed she has a hole in her front left tooth. I also noticed that her right front tooth is starting to blacken. I realize that I have to get her to a dentist, but was wondering what could have caused this. She does brush. She also still uses a pacifier. I was told that this may cause damage to the teeth. Is that true?

The use of pacifiers by themselves, do not cause dental decay or have much of an affect on the teeth at the age of three. However, continued use of a pacifier may contribute to bacteria in the mouth that could lead to decay. The hole in the tooth may be decay if it is discolored and the blackening of the other front tooth may be related to trauma (a fall or bump of the tooth). A children's dentist will be able to treat these problems for your daughter.

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