One-in-six children now suffering from dental condition that causes discoloured and crumbling teeth
Having a good set of teeth is key for confidence and for health, too, but now an increasing number of children are developing an unusual dental condition that is causing their smile to crumble.
It used to be very rare, with not much known about it, but now more children than ever are developing the unusual condition.
According to the Daily Mail, one in six children are now being left with yellowed, brittle teeth that are breaking apart in their mouths.
The official title for the disorder is 'Accomolar incisor hypomineralisation', often shortened to MIH.
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The condition weakens the precious protective enamel on the teeth, which leaves them at a higher risk of tooth decay and damage, with many patients finding their teeth are just crumbling away.
This disintegration has earned the condition a nickname of 'chalk teeth'.
Enamel is mostly made up of minerals such as phosphate and calcium, but with MIH they have higher levels of protein instead.
The condition tends to become visible at the age of around six, when the child's adult teeth emerge.
Most people see damaged teeth and assume it's down to a lack of brushing, or an excess of sugar.
With MIH, that's sadly not the case, but the stigma can be real.
Instead, it's caused by how the enamel forms in those crucial early days of childhood and has nothing to do with oral health.
Traditional tooth decay is slowing thanks to education and better tooth brushing practices, however experts are finding that MIH is on the rise instead.
It was first recognised in the 1980s, but it is also increasing across Europe.
Norwegian scientists have found that the numbers are even higher in Scandinavian countries, with a whopping one-in-three children in the region being afflicted.
Dr Helen Rodd, professor of paediatric dentistry at the University of Sheffield told the Daily Mail that they don't know why it's on the rise.
"It’s not anything to do with how a child’s teeth are taken care of, because these teeth are developing at birth, they’re coming in, around the age of six or so, with teeth that are already discoloured and crumbling. We just can’t explain it," she added.
Professor Greig Taylor, clinical lecturer in paediatric dentistry at Newcastle University and a spokesman for the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry, added: ‘It’s about the amount of mineral in the tooth.’
To make it more confusing, it doesn't always impact every tooth, either.
Some children will just have one tooth with it, while others will find every tooth crumbling, said Taylor.
The Professor added: "The effect on the tooth itself also ranges. In a mild case it may look like little white flecks – while on another the tooth may be dark brown and totally broken down."
When molars at the back are effected, it can leave behind sensitive pulp and cause extreme pain, while the front teeth tend to have a more cosmetic impact.
"In front teeth, it often presents as discrete, white, yellow, brown or cream spots. They don’t crumble and break away, as back teeth do," says Professor Taylor.
"But while this doesn’t affect chewing, it can impact quality of life for a child. They might not want to smile or go to school."
Some clinical research has found a possible link to a vitamin D deficiency in early childhood, while illnesses such as chickenpox or measles can cause damage if they lead to a high fever before the age of two.
New research has also found a strong link between difficult births and caesarean deliveries, with C-section babies nearly 1.5 times more likely to develop the condition.
Dr Taylor says that's because the cells responsible for making tooth enamel are very sensitive and they form in the womb and calcify around the time of birth.
It's important parents don't feel guilty though, he says: "We still don’t know enough about MIH to go back in a child’s life and pick out what caused it."
"Often there’s no clear event or illness at all. It’s simply not in a parent’s control. Instead, the emphasis needs to be on how to recognise and manage it."
Jen Thomas