Dental advice please

welshdent

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_stephan%27s_curve

http://www.ncl.ac.uk/dental/oralbiol/oralenv/tutorials/stephancurves2.htm

have a nose at these

coldstreamalways

Unless she has dentinogenesis imperfecta or amelogenesis imperfecta (which you would definitely know about) or enamel hypoplasia (which usually manifests itself in adult teeth) the herediatry weak teeth myth is just that. Sugar is the key ingredient in decay, nothing else. Sugar can be glucose, sucrose, fructose (from fruit), any sugar you name will allow decay to happen and unless sugar is limited to mealtimes, decay and abscesses will continue.

This is a good start

I'm not trying to be harsh but good habits you instil now will stay with your daughter for the rest of her life, giving in to requests for sweets etc during the day, on the way home from school or at the supermarket will mean she is on this website in 20yrs time asking for advice on root canal.

coldstreamalways

Oh you both got there before me!

POPPYOSCAR

Im with you on the genetics.

Both my children have been brought up on the same kind of diet and teeth brushing routine.My Oh has good teeth but I havnt.Our son has never had a filling (18) daughter (13) has had root canal treatment and her teeth have been very prone to decay especially the baby teeth,(getting better now thank goodness) Neither child had drinks in bottles as a baby and drunk mostly water when young.I am convinced that my daughter is more susceptible to the sugar in things than my son.

welshdent

coldstreamalways wrote: »

Oh you both got there before me!

people will think we are secretly conspiring with all this matching info!!

brook2jack

The other thing you can do is write a food diary for her over three consequetive normal days. Write down everything she eats and drinks over 3 days and the times even if it us just a mouthful or a sip ... Be honest. Then ask your dentist to take a look to add up the acid attacks a day and give you suggestions.

The other thing to watch is childrens medicines, most are highly sugared but a doctor can prescibe sugar free versions. Similarly soya milk is also very prone to causing decay.

Many kids are also on lactulose which also causes decay.

Some medical conditions eg diabetes cause dry mouth and additional measures should be taken by your dentist.

Finally habits such as "swishing " drinks through teeth, sucking on lollies for a long time , etc can also make decay worse .

brook2jack

Poppyoscar , was it an adult tooth that was rootfilled, if so and she's only 13 she has a serious problem .

The problem is changing behaviour is the most difficult thing to do . It is so much easier for everyone to blame eg decay on hereditary problems or being susceptible to it and that way the disease is out of our control and we can do nothing about it ..... We are just unlucky! Changing our eating and brushing habits won't do much good.

Dental decay is entirely preventable, there are many cultures that have no dental decay because they eat no sugary foods.

Your daughter is 13 and starting to make choices ( including food and brushing, flossing) for herself. If the idea that her dental problems are because she is "susceptible" is reinforced she will NEVER make the changes to make sure she never needs a filling again.

I know it's hard..... I'm overweight and it would be tempting to say it's my "metabolism" but that is scientific junk, I'm eating too much , not exercising enough. The solution is in my hands but it doesn't make it easy..... A bit like preventing dental decay.

POPPYOSCAR

brook2jack

Yes it is an adult tooth that she has had this done to.(at the age of about 10)I have been through all the listing everything she eats in a day etc.Her baby teeth were a real problem. I tried to do all the right things with my children and followed the advice of our dentist from a very early age.They have always had regular check ups and they have always brushed their teeth.
Throughout their earlier years they only wanted to drink water and I did not buy fizzy drinks etc. They would only have them at parties etc.Even our own dentist has been surprised at times just how quickly a tooth has started to show signs of decay.

Touch wood her last couple of check ups have been ok, because of her problems sometimes she has them every 3 months.

My children on the whole have always eaten at the same times as we always sit at the table to eat and have had the same foods and drinks etc. Son 18 no fillings.

She has recently had her brace removed and the orthodontist was very pleased with how well she had kept her teeth and how clean she kept them.

Harrietxxx

Its all so very difficult isn't it. So much to tempt them and so very hard to say no you can only have water. So much hidden sugar in things too. And then the debate about artificial sweeteners and whether we should be giving them to our children.

I will do a food diary, I do think she probably has too many individual sugar hits each day. She is getting old enough to make her own choices on some things so I think education for her as well as me will be the way forward, and definitely for her dad who always gives in to his little princess.

Cheese before bed is good? before cleaning teeth I assume? But those cheese strings are not good I don't think because they have hidden sugars?

What about chewing gum after meals?

Are there any 'safe' drinks or anything to make water a bit more interesting?

Sorry for all the questions, I never seem to think of these things when we are at the dentist and they are always in such a rush.

POPPYOSCAR

Our dentist told us that one of the worst things is crisps especially quavers! I said to him about her drinking more milk for the calcium for her teeth and he said milk was bad for her teeth because of the sugars in that.So it looks like bread and water then!!

I do understand your dilema.My son can eat anything he likes and no fillings, my daughter now has to be extra specially careful and she constantly tells me it is not fair that her brother can eat anything and she cant.