Was you mother given tetracycline (an antibiotic)......

[XNASA]

when you were developing in the womb, or while you were being breastfed?

Mine was. The tetracycline stained my teeth permanently. I have always had light gray teeth as a result. Other than that, my teeth are straight and normal so I never bothered to get them 'whitened'. It's just a cosmetic thing so it's no biggie.

I think this was something that happened more in the 50's and 60's.

Anyone else?

Weird question, but I'm just curious.

[Snow]

1. My sister had severe ear infections when she was little,

& got a lot of tetracycline. Left her teeth mottled. Oh, well.

[XNASA]

2. Sometimes when a developing infant is given tetracycline....

It affects their bone development. Moreso if while in the womb.

In my case, it was from breastmilk, so it only discolored my teeth.

[djeseru]

3. Diet pills...

...for gaining too much weight when she was pregnant with me, during her 8th month. In 1968, this meant amphetamines ~ she remembers actually speeding along, on her hands & knees, scrubbing floors, etc. She didn't find out until later during nursing school what they actually were. I remember her giving me funny looks after she found out...

[Rabrrrrrr]

4. My dentist told my partner that the reason her teeth are so gray

is because of tetracycline given to her mother.

And she's Japanese, and I noticed that a LOT of people her age, those who are somewhat younger and many who are older have gray teeth. They must have been popping boatloads of tetracycline over in Japan like hell after WWII.

Not surprising, considering the terrible heath conditions there.

The children I saw don't seem to have the teeth problem, so I assume they stopped with the tetracycline.

[VelmaD]

5. No, but I was on it for years...

as a teenager. They gave it to me for acne if you can believe that. Didn't bother to tell me about the side effects...like what it did to my teeth. Grr...

The best part was after about 3 years on it when I started seeing double and having blurred vision and headaches. They had to rule out all sorts of other things before they could finally declare I was allergic to the tetracycline built up in my system and take me off it. *huge sigh* I hate doctors.

[RebelOne]

6. I take it now for minor infections.

But since just about all my teeth are bridges and crowns, I don't have to worry about discoloring.