Your kid's teeth?

[prairiemama]

I'm getting kinda berated over at Natural Family for not pinning Robin down and thoroughly brushing her teeth every night. How do you do dental hygiene with your kid? We give Robin her toothbrush with toothpaste on it and she usually brushes them sort of haphazardly, but they do get some attention. Sometimes she'll let me finish up. We don't brush in the morning, and I don't force her to do it or do it for her because I figure later on, I'll want her to have positive associations. But apparently this is dooming her to dental surgery under general anesthesia :P.

Comments

[maggie-maybe.livejournal.com]

good lord those people need to chillax! srsly...it's borderline offensive and definitely reactionary. kind of like "omgz if you go overdue your baby is going to die!" type of stuff.
There are a few dentists in Austin's family (his dad almost became one even). It's their professional opinion and my anecdotal experience that: genetics have waaaaay more influence over your dental health than your dental hygiene habits.
Case in point: Austin grew up poor and rather neglected as one of 7 kids. He ate a SHIT TON of sweets constantly growing up and he pretty much never brushed his teeth until he was in 5th grade. And get this: he has never ever had a cavity! Meanwhile, I almost always brush 2x per day and floss almost daily...and I've managed to have 13 cavities in my adult life, not to mention all my childhood cavities. ALSO, most dentists will tell you flossing is more important than brushing...which def isn't an option for a toddler, right?
Another case in point: Both of my cats eat the same diet. One has had to have dental surgery for teeth removal and will probably need it again. The other barely has even any tartar build up. Again, genetics play a BIG ROLE.

/rant novel

I have a feeling I don't need to tell you this because you know in your heart that you're doing the right thing: Robin & you are fine!

[lolacat.livejournal.com]

I'm really surprised at this attitude coming from a normally crunchy/AP community!

ITA about genetics. Brian and I are much the same as you and Austin... Brian's dental hygiene is ABYSMAL (he brushes his teeth once a day in the MORNING) and he has NEVER had a cavity. I don't floss daily (hide) but I brush twice a day and use fluoride rinse and have had dozens of cavities and a root canal. We don't yet know whose teeth Robin got... I guess my feeling is that I want her to be cooperative about teeth brushing so that as we add to the routine, she'll be up for it. And hello, I want her to do it HERSELF, I don't want to be holding down a screaming 4 year old. It seems like if she's fine with it now, we can refine her technique, and add in a morning brush, and later on work on good rinsing, etc, without her fighting every step of the way.

[cathrynapple.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad to hear I'm not the only one in this situation. Chris brushes once a day in the morning, for like...less than 30 seconds. No cavities. Ever.

I floss twice a day, brush three times a day, and I have a cavity or two or THREE EVERY SINGLE TIME I go to the dentist. Not fair!