Amoxil Linked to Tooth Enamel Defects

[radwriter0555]

Use of the antibiotic amoxicillin, often sold under the brand name Amoxil, during infancy appears to be linked to tooth enamel defects in permanent teeth, according to a study in the October issue of Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.

Dental fluorosis, a result of exposure to excessive fluoride during enamel formation, is one of the most common developmental enamel defects, the authors note. The clinical signs range from barely noticeable white flecks to pits and brown stains.

Amoxicillin is one of the most common antibiotics used among pediatric patients, mainly for treatment of otitis media -- infection and inflammation of the middle ear. There has been some evidence that amoxicillin use could be associated with dental enamel defects, and, the authors suggest, even a small effect on dental enamel could have a significant effect on the public's dental health because of the widespread use of amoxicillin.


"The results show that amoxicillin use during early infancy seems to be linked to dental fluorosis on both permanent first molars and maxillary central incisors," the authors report. "Duration of amoxicillin use was related to the number of early erupting permanent teeth with fluorosis."

Amoxicillin use from three to six months doubled the risk of dental fluorosis. "The significantly elevated risk for dental fluorosis associated with amoxicillin use during early infancy was found at all levels of statistical analyses, even after controlling for other potential risk factors, such as fluoride intake, otitis media infections, and breastfeeding," the authors report.


"The findings suggest that amoxicillin use in infancy could carry some heretofore undocumented risk to the developing teeth," the authors conclude. "While the results of this one study do not warrant recommendations to cease use of amoxicillin early in life, they do further highlight the need to use antibiotics judiciously, particularly during infancy."

http://health.dailynewscentral.com/content/view/1794/31/

[electricray]

1. Just a small note...

Anyone reading this article and coming to the part about possible risk factors will note that breast feeding is listed as one. I believe this is a ridiculous idea and represents a fundamental misunderstanding of the true benefits of breastfeeding. In the US breastfeeding is often stopped far too soon and rarley taken to its natural completion point. This idea that it has an effect on developing teeth is just a part of a set of old ideas that poor research led to. Before it was illegal to do so, formula companies perpetuated that myth.

It is truly disappointing that new research includes old misconceptions, but I guess it goes toward vindicating breastfeeding in a small way.

Sorry to hyper-focus on a small aspect, but I am kind of activist when it comes to breastfeeding.

[benburch]

2. Hasn't this been known for YEARS????

At least, *I* knew that Amoxicillin caused tooth enamel defects for about 20 years...

[kath]

3. You're thinking of tetracycline, which has long been known to cause

staining of teeth if given to young children. For that reason, tetracycline has not prescribed to kids under age 12 or so for a very long time.

This finding re: amoxicillin and teeth is new.

[benburch]

5. Doh! Of course you are correct.

:blush:

[Sgent]

4. I don't get doctor's using

amoxil for ear infections.

most of them are self limiting, and proof upon proof shows that abx treatment adds nothing to the course of the disease.

For those that are chronic or not self limiting, I've seen very, very few that are not resistant. The younger ENT's in my area either use pain medication, maybe something to clear the sinuses, and if needed they jump to the higher level abx's anyway.