Sandra Dodd

-=-We are
2 parents with slightly differing approaches.. One parent constantly
reminds the kids to brush their teeth and the other lets them
remember on their own -=-




The full original post is here: http://tinyurl.com/225nll
(the real one wrapped badly in my e-mail)

I'm letting the parent be anonymous because I had this by e-mail, and
am taking it down to component topics. Please respond!

Thanks,

Sandra

Julie

--- In [email protected], Sandra Dodd <Sandra@...>
wrote:
>
> -=-We are
> 2 parents with slightly differing approaches.. One parent
constantly
> reminds the kids to brush their teeth and the other lets them
> remember on their own -=-
>
>


I used to make my kids brush teeth every night but then came mindful
parenting and an article about teeth being genetic not wether you
brush or not. I decided to rethink the everynight thing and see what
happened. My 2 yr old like to climb up on the sink and brush her
teeth sometimes 5 times a day and will then go a few days the 4 yr
old sometimes wants to brush and sometimes not. She usually ends up
brushing every other day. I now say "do you want to brush teeth?"
The teenager was raised with us always nagging and i have no idea if
he brushes at night but does in the morning to get rid of bad
breath.

My two year old chipped a tooth and at dentist said to lay them on
the ground (almost sit on them if you have to) and brush and floss.
i thought how degrading would you like to have your teeth brushed
laying down on the floor? Duh..... But saddly this is what my sister
does to her kids and it is soo sad.

Some people have good teeth and others have soft teeth that get
cavities no matter what so why fight over it.

Krisula Moyer

>>My two year old chipped a tooth and at dentist said to lay them on
the ground (almost sit on them if you have to) and brush and floss.
I thought how degrading would you like to have your teeth brushed
laying down on the floor? Duh..... But sadly this is what my sister
does to her kids and it is soo sad. <<

Wow, Anika needed a pediatric Dentist at age 3 because of tooth pain. She
ended up having several fillings and two extractions all at once while
sedated. The wonderful anesthesiologist talked to her in the waiting room
and let her color and sit on my lap while she gave her the initial dose of
medicine out in the waiting room. She was allowed to stay with me right up
until she was ready for the procedure and I carried her to the dentist chair
after she was out. Making the visit pleasant for her was a big priority to
avoid anxiety at future visits. Halleluiah.

During the follow up visit the Dr. admired how clean her teeth were and
started to talk to me about letting her brush for herself. His opinion was
kids should be allowed to do it themselves and come to good habits on their
own terms. He was really pleased when I told him she brushed for herself
and I didn't make her.

I thought He'd be lecturing me (under the circumstances ) but he told me
that decay is largely genetic and that his own daughter had lots of carries
and decay at a young age but that her teeth hardened up as she got older -
which is also what we experienced. Mostly, I was floored by how respectful
and caring he always is with her. Turns out he only works with children and
special needs adults.

We went and talked to three different dentists before we found him but it
was worth the trouble.

So grateful,
Krisula




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Julie

> I thought He'd be lecturing me (under the circumstances ) but he
told me
> that decay is largely genetic and that his own daughter had lots of
carries
> and decay at a young age but that her teeth hardened up as she got
older -
> which is also what we experienced.
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>



I think this is what happened to my son who had cavities in almost all
his baby teeth. I call them marshmellow teeth but as is big teeth came
in they must have hardened because there have been no problems.

Some dentists would tellme he needed 10 fillings in the baby teeth and
the next would say they are baby teeth let them fall out.