Does your child have any cavities?

~appletini~

My DS is four and we took him to the dentist for his first cleaning today.  He has SEVERAL cavities.  I'm shocked and feel awful. 

I am very careful to make sure he brushes a lot an I try so hard to take care of his teeth. I have problems with cavities, even though I eat very healthy and don't eat a lot of sugar, so the dentist indicated this could just be inherited, but still.

DS drinks a lot of water and milk, eats tons of fruit (which I know has sugar) and veggies, cottage cheese, what not.  I feel like I do such a good job of getting him to eat good things, but those things are also hurting his teeth.

They did say his molars have deep pockets, where things can get stuck easily, so it's something he'll struggle with more than other kids.

I am so angry and mad at myself, and I'm not even sure for what because I am trying and I can't necessarily blame myself for him being more likely to get cavities.

It kills me because MH is a junk food junkie, pop drinker, sugar etc and hardly has any cavities.  I just feel so down about this.

I'm going to buy him an electric toothbrush because they recommend those, and buy the smart rinse now that I know he won't swallow it, and do flossing and even take a toothbrush and toothpaste to daycare and ask them to help him after each meal.  I guess that's all I can do is keep trying.

 I'm literally sick at the thought of how many fillings he needs. Sick.

goodheartedmommy

Definitely use the spin brush type thing. There are diets out there to help build stronger teeth--I have a friend who does it for her daughter (same thing as you--brushes/flosses, and eats minimal sugar, but it's apparently inherited). The diet is pretty strict, but if you're interested in it, I'm sure you can find something about it.

winery

It's more about the bacteria in your mouth than hygiene.  I floss daily but generally don't brush twice a day and once I didn't go to the dentist for 5 years.  Not a single cavity.

So don't feel too badly. 

MH, on the other hand, is cavity ridden and he's diligent about dental health.

mlm1128

No, but hopefully she got her teeth from me and dh...not my mom!  Neither of us has ever had a cavity, so she should have nice strong teeth.  My mom...mouth full of fillings.

~appletini~

Not to mention that it will cost us almost $500 to fill them all, and that includes one maybe two "baby" root canals.

I am seriously considering getting a second opinion. Every word out of this guy's mouth is root canal with me, and I'm not in any pain. He says I need to have one root canal re-done.  Ummm...why? I 'm not in pain...I don't know. I am starting to wonder.

$500 for fillings?  And that's with our insurance paying 70%.  Ugh.

amy05-04

My son had one cavity on his 1st dentist visit last year.  They recommended a flouride treatment we use every night.  We've gone back twice for cleanings and he had no more cavities.  Don't beat yourself up.  You can brush ten times a day and still get a cavity.  I would get a second opinion on the $ though!  That's crazy with insurance!  Ours was something like $45 and that included the laughing gas to fill it. 

shopgirl78

DD has one.  She is good at brushing her teeth too.  But I was also the kid prone to cavities...it sucked! DD is getting the cavity filled and then getting sealant later this month.   Our insurances pay 75%