My son brushes properly. I watch him to it. Yet, he keeps getting these tiny brown spots on the top edges of his teeth. What is that?
Lori B. – Delaware
Lori,
Dental plaque constantly builds up on our teeth. Fortunately, it is easily removed by brushing. There can be tricky spots where removing it might be harder. Those upper corners are one of those spots.
When the plaque isn’t removed, it can form a thick build-up, which can be a yellowish or brownish color. This material is tartar or calculus. It’s quite difficult to remove.
You didn’t mention if your son’s age or if you take him to the dentist. It’s good to bring children to a pediatric dentist or even a general dentist who loves working with children starting around two years of age. You want it to be a positive experience, so it’s always important to go before there is a problem.
The hygienist has special tools that can remove this calculus. Now that you know where his trouble spots are, you can help him with flossing there. Those corners are tricky. There are flossers for children with handles and flavored floss to make it easier for children. They’re not too expensive and may help your son get into those tricky spots.
This blog is brought to you by Dr. Raymond Bolt.