06/21/2026
“First off, it’s important to know that, with the knowledge we have today, MIH itself cannot be prevented. So, as parents, there’s nothing you can actually do to stop the condition from occurring.
That said, there are things you can do to help. The most obvious one is tooth brushing and the use of fluoride toothpaste. This is extremely important because the tooth enamel is softer in young children, so the teeth are harder to keep clean and are at greater risk of cavities.
Molar teeth with brown and yellowish markings from MIH. Department of Dentistry, University of Copenhagen, Author provided (no reuse)
It’s also important to help your child develop a good relationship with the dentist. It helps to speak positively about what dentists do for teeth: namely, helping to protect them better so they do not hurt or break. It’s also important to tell your child that they should say where and how a tooth hurts, if it does.”
Why are so many children growing up with damaged adult teeth?
