Tooth decay in kids....

[mummydreamer]

so they had a story on the news tonight about the rise in tooth decay in children. i can't remember what channel it was on, but the story said the rise was due to more children drinking fruit juices and fizzy drinks, (things really high in sugar) and also parents not cleaning their kids teeth properly.

now i was in the kitchen trying to watch this story, so i may have missed things, but the gist i got was that the blame in tooth decay is put a lot on the parents, when i have to say that i think it needs to be placed also on the high costs of dental? my kids are nearly 6 and 4 1/2, and have never been to the dentist simply because i cannot afford to take them. now i'm pretty anal when it comes to cleaning my kids teeth, and its a good thing too, because i certainly could not afford for either of my kids to have holes in their teeth right now. as well as the kids, i've had a sore tooth for the past week, but im just putting up with it, because i can't afford to get it checked out on myself either.

am i alone with this problem?? dental scares the heck out of me, because it is so friggin' expensive and medicare simply don't cover it! so i think instead of maybe putting the blame on the parents, maybe the government should step up a bit and help middle to low income families out that simply don't have the spare cash for something as important as dental?? and i know there are those bulk billed places, but the waiting lists are always so long.....

just my opinion though.....realise others might think differently....

[Astrid]

Yes, it can be expensive. I know I need to have a checkup myself, but have had to put it off.

There is a dental clinic where I live that see small children for just under $30 (free for healthcare card I think) and thankfully we can get in quite quickly if there is a major concern. I am in Vic, does NSW offer anything similar?

[Cranky Kitten]

I know when I was a kid we used to have the school dental vans that came around twice a year, but they don't seem to have them anymore - such a pity as yes, dental care is crazily expensive unless you have good private health cover.

I'm another one that avoids going to the dentist purely because of the cost previously, even when it came to being in quite severe pain and needing an extraction (ouch).

[LizLemon]

I think in some places (in WA at least anyway) primary school kids are seen free of charge through the school dental system. Hopefully your little ones will be able to access that soon if it's available over east? But yes it's very expensive to see a dentist normally.

I do agree though that kids sucking on sugary drinks can't help. My little one has never known anything but milk and water and won't do for a few years yet. When I see kids his age (nearly two) drinking juice etc I just can't understand it...

[Cranky Kitten]

The one I hate is chupa-chups. It's essentially a ball of sugar resting in your mouth mixing with saliva to bathe your teeth. I blame them for most of the damage done to my teeth as I was addicted to the stupid things throughout my teenage years, especially in year 12.

DD loves them but I try to switch her onto other things that she chews up and swallows rather than sucks on for hours at a time (in addition to insisting on her brushing her teeth).

[Olive]

there is a system in place for dental treatment for teenagers but not kids
however i understand the expense but even putting a few dollars away a week will cover a check up even if its once a year per child, its better than nothing.
having worked in the industry i understand the costs, you can also ask your dentist if he will let you pay off basic treatment such as check ups and when the time comes, things like fissure seals which is preventative work
things like cheese are awesome for kids as it helps to neutralize acid from food etc..

ETA was also going to ask do you have a school dental van in your area??

[mummydreamer]

ETA was also going to ask do you have a school dental van in your area??

hmmmm... don't think so....we live pretty rural....

Astrid, i wish there was a clinic like that around us! But im pretty sure there isn't....don't think NSW have anything like that though....but be happy to be proven wrong!

my parents are both from the UK, and my mum was telling me how over there dental care is free for women who are pregnant until bubs turns 2, and also free for children and teenagers....don't understand why Australia can't implement something like that considering how important healthy teeth are....?

[Astrid]

For those that are in VIC here is info on the Public Dental System:
Victoria's public dental system - Clients: Dentistry in Victoria - Victorian Government Health Information, Australia

[Calluna]

ooh yes! I partially agree with you. I dont think it's healthy in any way for kids to be drinking soft drink and sugary juices (ie anything bought from the supermarket - not sure about homemade juice but it has to be better right?). DS has only had booby milk and water too, oh except once when he was a bit blocked up and had some really dilute prune juice.

The part I agree with is the dentist being soo darn exxy! I've had a tooth ache for a good 6 months now. It's getting worse and now a wisdom tooth is coming through putting pressure on the rest of my teeth on that side of my mouth and hurts like heck! But we just cannot afford for me to go to the dentist.

DS rarely eats anything 'unhealthy' and I brush his teeth religeously but they are still beggining to go yellow So would like to get them proffesionally cleaned sometime soon but again, too exxy...

[Olive]

remember prevention (cheaper) is better than cure

[~breeze~]

when I was in NSW (Sydney) we had 2 hospitals in my area that had the free dental. I got in the day after I called once, the following week the second time & a couple of days later the last time.

They have it here in QLD aswell, I had to wait about 4 weeks for a tooth reconstruction after a tooth broke (not painful which is why I had to wait) & DS has his appt next Wed, he waited about 8 weeks I think, but he hasnt got any pain, his is just a check up as he hasnt been to the dentist before & I want him to have regular check ups.

DD's school has the dental van but I called them as she was having pain from a hole in her tooth & they fit her in that week. She had 2 small fillings done.

Can you google & check if theres something similar in or around your area? Even if its 8 weeks waiting time you're still going to be doing nothing about it in those 8 weeks anyway because you cant afford it, might aswell take an appt with a long wait period IYKWIM?

I hope you can find something, I have a long history with a private dentist due to my very bad teeth & I have spents $1000's literally on my teeth & they're still crap!

Good luck!

[helle]

I read an article the other day that tooth decay has also become more of an issue since the increased used of formula.

here

[Trillian]

Hi Bath! They are pretty busy so it would take away from other kids whose parents just couldn't afford to go to the Dentist. As I said, I'm not worried about the cost because our PHI covers 80% of it and he is an excellent dentist. The school dentist is only a Dental Technician, so she is limited in what she can do anyway. One of the teeth DD1 had to have filled kept coming out all the time because she just wasn't doing it properly and then it coincided with us getting PHI so I took her to him and never looked back.