Question 1

what should i do if my 17 month old has severe tooth decay?

Accepted Answer

Get help soon: See a pedodontist, a dentist specialist for infants and kids.  Stop sending kid to bed with bottle of milk if you have been.

Question 2

my 17 month old has severe tooth decay, is it too late to go to the dentist?

Accepted Answer

No get help: Dental caries in infants need to be treated as soon as possible.  A pediatric dentist or childrens' hospital dental clinic can care for the child in a setting geared towards young ones.  The baby teeth are important to care for to allow for adult teeth to come into place and permit the child to have a good diet.  While waiting for the dental visit, you need to brush the child's teeth daily.

Question 3

can severe tooth decay cause frequent urination/incontinence along with pain throughout the body?

Accepted Answer

More info needed: Age of patient? Medical history? Medications being taken? Infection from decayed teeth? Tooth decay itself will not result in incontinence. Systemic infections can have serious consequences, however. It's time to restore those teeth and see a physician for a complete physical. All the best...

Question 4

baby bottle tooth decay and pulling all teeth? my sister and brother-in-law have taken on a two year old that they want to adopt. they took her to the dentist, and the dentist said that she has severe tooth decay in almost all of her teeth, and wants to h

Accepted Answer

This : This sounds like a drastic treatment recommendation for a 2 yr old but if the teeth cannot have root canals and be restored then there is no other alternative.  This will create feeding and social problems for the child. This may also pose problems down the line with the eruption of the permanent teeth so the child will need to be followed closely by the pediatric dentist.

If any of the teeth are salvageable then i recommend saving as many as possible even if they require root canals and baby crowns.  This will help to provide anchorage for replacements down the line, provide some chewing surfaces and hopefully maintain space for the permanent teeth.  A second opinion may be in order.

Question 5

i have been on antibiotics on and off for a month for severe tooth decay and abcesses. what are the chances of it spreading to my neck while on antibiotics?

Accepted Answer

Oral infections: Mantibiotics lone will not cure abcessed teeth.  You need to treat these teeth or the infection will return.  And the bacteria can become more resistant to antibiotics.    An out of control oral infection can progress down the neck and cause serious problems. If you are having difficulty breathing or swallowing this is an emergency situation and you need immediate treatment.

Question 6

i have a severe decayed tooth w/abcess i have no dental insurance or 300dollars down for treatment.insurance is pending i am just playing waiting game?

Accepted Answer

Dental Infections: You must have the tooth removed as soon as possible.  If there is a dental school in your area, try to schedule an appointment there or at a hospital dental clinic where you can receive emergency care that you will be billed for.  You cannot go long with an active dental infection which can enter your bloodstream and cause a full body infection.  Call oral surgeons in your area to tell your story!

Question 7

can tooth decay spread very quickly?  like in a week?  i have a dentist appointment then but worried it will get severely worse by then

Accepted Answer

Tooth decay: Tooth decay builds slowly over time. There will be no change in a week.
If you have decay at your dental visit, it is decay you have had for some time.

Question 8

what causes tooth decay?

Accepted Answer

Sugar: Bacteria in your mouth cling to your tooth & if fed by sugar they produce acids that erode your tooth & result in decay ( a cavity).

Question 9

is tooth decay hereditary?

Accepted Answer

Not really: No i don't think it is.  But the bad habits that cause tooth decay are passed on through families.  I have heard patients say that bad teeth run in their family, but i don't agree with that. If you brush 2-3 times a day, floss once a day, rinse once a day, see the dentist every 6 months, you will go a long way toward breaking this family tradition.

Question 10

how can you stop tooth decay?

Accepted Answer

Great home care: Great home care along w  a healthy diet and regular dental visits.
Avoid sugary drinks, sticky sweets, potato chips, etc!
use a Fluoride toothpaste.

Get Virtual Care

For Businesses

About Us

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Doctor answers about:

Severe tooth decay

A member asked:

What should i do if my 17 month old has severe tooth decay?

A member asked:

My 17 month old has severe tooth decay, is it too late to go to the dentist?

A member asked:

Can severe tooth decay cause frequent urination/incontinence along with pain throughout the body?

A member asked:

Baby bottle tooth decay and pulling all teeth? my sister and brother-in-law have taken on a two year old that they want to adopt. they took her to the dentist, and the dentist said that she has severe tooth decay in almost all of her teeth, and wants to h

A member asked:

I have been on antibiotics on and off for a month for severe tooth decay and abcesses. what are the chances of it spreading to my neck while on antibiotics?

A member asked:

I have a severe decayed tooth w/abcess i have no dental insurance or 300dollars down for treatment.insurance is pending i am just playing waiting game?

A member asked:

Can tooth decay spread very quickly? like in a week? i have a dentist appointment then but worried it will get severely worse by then

A member asked:

What causes tooth decay?

A member asked:

Is tooth decay hereditary?

A member asked:

How can you stop tooth decay?

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Telemedicine

Primary Care

Manage Your Conditions

Women's Health

Children's Health

Men's Health

Senior Health

Wellness, Prevention & Lifestyle

Sexual Health

Mental & Behavioral Health

Travel Medicine

Urgent Care

Didn't find what you're looking for?

More of what we treat

Allergies

Antibiotics

Asthma

High Blood Pressure

Prescriptions

Type 2 Diabetes

For Businesses

Company

Health Content

Join Us

Download HealthTap

Questions?