Learn from my mistake!!!

I totally freaked out tonight and thought I would share it with everyone, because no-one else really tells you about this and it's important (and it's made me feel like a real idiot)!

If you haven't yet taken your toddler to the dentist, make an appointment asap! After tonight's mad dash for research, apparently they should start going when they hit only 1 year old and some dentists even like them to go more frequently than we do.

I was trying yet again in vain to get Marisa to brush her teeth tonight when I noticed a tan/brown spot on a back molar. I tried using a fingernail and toothbrush as best I could and it wouldn't come off. I am pretty sure this is tooth decay. It seems to be under the tooth as well, but it's really hard to get to and you cant see it unless you look really hard (awkward position).

I have done a few things wrong which may have caused this, she has a milo or warm milk to go to bed with (which was a way we tried to get her weaned) but this is a no-no which we now know-know lol. Anyway, just wanted to say that if your toddler hasn't been yet, please make a time to get them started with your dentist. I have read lots of stories on the net where even soley breastfed babies have developed cavities (they are also hereditary so not always that easy to prevent) and parents didn't realise until it was the first dental visit when they were older and it had gotten bad.

So don't be like me and feel like a total spazzo of a mum LOL - cos I feel bloody awful now that it may mean she will need sedation and fillings to fix this! I will fill you in on Monday as I will be taking her Dr. Axel as soon as I can. I wonder what my $600 family bonus will be used for - ironically we get it on Monday too LMAO!

I just wish that I knew that check-ups should have started sooner - parents need to be educated on the best way to avoid this!

Hi Kelly

Thanks for that. Like you I didn't know they were supposed to go so young. I did think it was around the 2 yr old mark but definitely not that early. I hope Marisa goes well on Monday and it is something that can easily be fixed.

Love :smt049

Its funny you should mention this because I am going to take paris soon :) She's really good with brushing her teeth though, we brush for her to make sure its all clean and then she does it herself. Marc taught her to spit in the shower because they say its not good for little ones to swallow toothpaste (even childrens), so she's really good at spitting it out too.

I am paranoid about teeth because both marc & I have bad teeth. I think because I have an older niece though I have been told all this stuff before. My niece's dentist says that even up until they are 7 or 8 they really aren't good enough to brush their teeth on their own as they often miss the back molars etc. Paris gets water before bed, mostly because she drinks less of it so stays dry through the night. But we have never been one to give milk before bed as a friend I knew had a little girl who's front teeth rotted completely away and she always slept with milk (usually it would sit in her mouth which caused them to rot). But kelly I think when we are weaning our babies we will try anything so please don't feel like a spazzo mum as we all do things to appease them from time to time ;) The fact that you know about it now means you can do something so try not to beat yourself up too much!

I also stay away from Jelly lollies or lollies/lollipops in general as they stick to the teeth. Paris is allowed chocolate from time as I read somewhere that its better for their teeth as it rinses away with saliva quicker and easier than lollies. She still does have the occasional lollie here and there (I am not that mean LOL) but if she is going to have a treat its generally chocolate rather than anything else. OOOOOOH! And speaking of lollies, just an FYI my gf told me about after going to a childrens hospital. Try not to (if you can, after hearing this paris never has them) give little ones (even up to 4 I think they said) marshmallows, as if they breath them in they lodge into their throat and expand causing the airway to be completely blocked. Apparently its quite common and very dangerous so yeah just a bit of FYI totally off topic I know LOL!

Please don't stress kel, a mother who can admit her downfalls is a good one in my opinion because it means you only going to grow as a mother :) If that makes any sense at all.

Thanks for sharing your post, its funny how sometimes we take the smallest things for granted.

*hugs*
Cailin

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But we have never been one to give milk before bed as a friend I knew had a little girl who's front teeth rotted completely away and she always slept with milk (usually it would sit in her mouth which caused them to rot)

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uho i hope this doesnt happen to joshua! i dont think his dad knows to take him to the dentist, hes 2 and a half at the end of this month and he always goes to bed with milk, he always gets his teeth brushed and tries to do it himself, maybe i should mention to him that he should go to the dentist..

Lesley

Thanks for the kind words Cailin ;). Marisa likes to brush with dad in the shower too. I guess as many sites I read, littlies don't have the hand control that we do to get those back teeth, so we really should have tried harder to do the brushing for her back teeth. #-o

Went down to mums today as my sister is a dental nurse, she is going to get me into a lovely Orthadontic Dentist on Tuesday (poor Dr. Ecke is away - broke his ankle!!) and apparently she is very good. My sister does think though that the dentist wont be able to treat her, just assess and refer her to a paed. dentist, as normal dentists aren't very inclined to work with young children due to some sort of sedative or anaesthetic required. My sister did say though that it was decay :(

She bought Marisa a gorgeous Nemo toothbrush from the surgery, which Marisa thinks is fabulous and they even brushed their teeth together! So I think we'll have to take Nemo out everywhere with us. Just have to keep hoping she'll let us help her get those back teeth!

I just didn't want you to feel too bad ;) As I think we have all btdt when it comes to these sorts of things.

That is so great about the nemo toothbrush, paris loves all things to do with her teeth, and especially her disney princess toothpaste LOL! She's going to be so ecstatic when she can finally use the princess range of toothbrushes ;)

Well done ris for brushing your teeth, keep up the good work =D> =D>

I didn't realise there were paed dentists, so thats good to know I will look into that and see if our health insurance co. has a gap free one :)

Goodluck, and you'll have to let us know how it goes.

*bighugs*
Cailin

Okay update LOL!

Went into the city to see our dentist and of course she refused to open her mouth to anyone! So rather than risk her having a bad experience at the dentist and hating them forever, the dentist advised that we should come back another time (ie a few months) and not to stress too much as decay takes ages to form - it wouldn't do much harm since she's not in pain (decay hurts them). She gave us some 'toothmoose' which is flavoured toothpaste which is specially designed to help break down early cavities (cavies) and we've been madly brushing away since she loves the flavour and it's easier!

We managed to get a picture of her opening her mouth quite close and took it to the dentist, so she advised getting an OPG scan done (the one that goes around their head) so she wouldn't have to worry about opening her mouth! The scan took two tries but she thought it was great fun on the second and we found out that there was no decay *PHEW*!!! It could be decalcification which is apparently more common in young children but it is on the surface and that is all. If it is decay, it will take long enough to worsen, that she'll lose that tooth before it causes any problems.

So that was a huge relief. The scan was amazing though - we saw her six year molars in her gum already, the roots hadn't formed yet but you could see a good sized tooth in each spot, which looked encapsulated in the gum - really freaky!

Feeling much like I have a load off my shoulders now that she doesn't have decay and doesn't need an anaesthetic. I would be a mess! So yeah, I still think we should all take our littlies to the the dentist more often, you just never know.... ;)

That must be such a relief for you Kelly.

It's good that you managed to get a toothpaste that she likes, I remember having a strawberry flavoured one when I was little LOL! Mum says that it's all we would use!

Hi

I did not know about them going to the dentist early. Kimberley is 17 months old and likes her toothbrush and toothpaste but she has now got into eating the toothpaste first.

Also thanks for saying about marshmellows she was eating some this week as ahe liked them i did not think about them getting stuck as she took hers apart bit by bit.

Glad i just poped in to see what was going on hope you don't mind.

yay! Thats great news Kelly, I am relieved for you :)

And congrats on the toothpaste, paris loves her disney princess one but I will have to look into the toothmoose.

*hugs*
Cailin

That is great news Kelly.. That definitely would have been freaky seeing her 6yr old molars already !! Glad to hear she thought it was fun too

Love :smt049

OK now here's some probably really silly questions coming up LOL....

When do you start cleaning teeth? I've got this little kit that has a gum stimulator thing in it, plus some other gadget and a little toothbrush but it doesn't actually say when to start using what IYKWIM? I'm just wondering when you do what? Do you just use the special childrens toothpaste that you buy at the supermarket when you do start cleaning their teeth and if they're only little, how do you get their little mouths rinsed out etc?

OK...sorry for asking silly questions but it's just my mind is ticking over all sorts of things ATM! LOL

I'm glad to hear that everything is ok with Marisa and I would never have know that you would take them to the dentist so young, so there's definitely a valuable piece of info!!

Tootie - You have to start with a brush as soon as a tooth erupts, as that's when tartar can start forming. You can buy baby brushes, make sure they are rated soft and make sure you use baby toothpaste (less fluoride). When you go for your annual check-up, my dentist says that it's a good time to bring baby, just for familiarisation, and they can discuss with you plans for future visits.

Thanks for all the kind wishes guys - I tell you what I was so wrecked about the whole thing! The toothmoose is higher fluoride and from the dentist - you can only use it for a certain time for young children, but it helps if there are early signs of problems. They also suggested if your child is old enough, get them used to flossing - amazingly Marisa will do this with John with her front teeth. Not all children will do this but she thinks it's a novelty at the moment!

Well my fears have come true - we spent the morning in the city with a paed. dentist as it's gotten worse - even though we are brushing like mad with special toothpaste, Marisa needs to have a general anaesthetic to have some work done :( I already know I am going to be a big mess!

She has a couple of small pits in some back molars, which need to be semi filled, and some smaller ones have started on her bottom front teeth (from the back). They will also fissure seal the teeth so they will be protected in future. The dentist was really good, he tried to reassure me that these things do happen and babies can just be born with problem teeth, but still, I wish she didn't have to have an operation for it all!!! Argh!!!

My sister is a dental nurse who knows this specialist and she is trying to get into the Op to help out, so I will feel somewhat better... but I know I will be a nervous wreck anyway... maybe I will go into early labour lmao... it's all booked for October so will try to remain calm until then. Oh well... fingers crossed all will go smoothly. I am sure it will, but you know, when it's your own bubbas... you always worry about the worst case scenario!

Time for caffiene LOLOL... pleeeeease guys don't go through this... as soon as your little one has it's first tooth erupt - make brushing fun and get them excited about brushing!!! Harder said than done I know LOL but it's amazing how many people don't realise brushing needs to be introduced as soon as the first tooth comes through.

Oh no Kelly. Big :hugs: for you all. Kameron is slowly getting better at it and ever since you first said it keep checking for anything unusual :) I hope she does well. !!!

Love :hbeat:

Awww Kelly :hugs: I'm sure all will go well, but can understand why you are so worried.

Hi Kelly, sorry to hear about Marisa! You poor bugger!

The other thing that hasn't been mentioned here, is that people who live out of Melbourne and those on tank water should really give there kids a fluoride suppplement. Fluoride helps to prevent tooth decay. Unfortantly there has been a problem with the factory so fluoride drops will not be available until JANUARY, but the tablets should be available again from this month inwards.

If you live in Melbourne or where there is fluoride in the water supply, you do NOT have to supplement your childs diet

I hope this makes sense!

Jo

oh dear :hugs:

i hope u can get ur sister in there so u can feel more reassured.. good luck marissa!

take care
Lesley