Amoxicillin Sharply Raises Kids’ Tooth Risk
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
Treating infant infections with the common antibiotic amoxicillin doubles some children’s risk of a later problem with their permanent teeth, researchers reported this week in the journal Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.
The condition, dental fluorosis, most often results from exposure to excessive fluoride during tooth enamel formation. The effect on incisors and molars can range from barely noticeable white flecks to pits and brown stains. Overall, 24% of study participants developed dental fluorosis. For unknown reasons, use of amoxicillin between the age of 3 months and 6 months doubled the risk of the condition
