I'm so ashamed- my 2 year old had to have a filling today...

[cupofteaplease]

I took my dd to the dentist today. He said there was a hole in her back tooth. He was very good and had her seen to by a female dentist straight away (because dd was inexplicably wary of the male dentist ) who scraped out the 'bugs' and filled it.

It was all very painless and quick, but still I feel like the world's worst mum

Dd is nearly 3, and I would say her diet is balanced. Added to that, I clean her teeth morning and night, and she does them herself after lunch at nursery.

Dh and I have terrible teeth with lots of fillings and extractions between us, and I was desperate for this not to be the case with dd. I'm so sad and embarrassed :-(

What can I do to prevent any futher cavities? What would be the best breakfast cereal to eat? Obviously, she only drinks water but loves fruit- this is full of sugar though isn't it?

[FiveOrangePips]

Dd also loves fruit(3 apples a day habit) we get her to either eat a small cube of cheese after it or have a drink of milk - neutralises the acid. It was recommended by dentist to use mouth wash, but I can't get dd to do that. She is 8 btw, has one tooth that the dentist thought needed filled, but she is leaving it, because she thinks it will come out soon.

[cupofteaplease]

Interesting to hear about brushing teeth before breakfast as this is something we do on nursery days (as she eats breakfast there), also intersting to hear about the cheese- never knew that!

[gorionine]

DD4 is a fruit bat and shows singns of decay on her two front teeth (the bit in between them) she was barely 2 1/2 when we first noticed it. The dentist said he would not do anything about it ATM but to be more thourough with the brushing. Very hard with a child who hates having their teeth brushed!

Thank for the tip, FiveOrangePips.

[BessieBoots]

Don't worry! Teeth go with genetics- my 77-yr-old grandad has a chocolate buttons and lilt habit and still has all his own teeth!

[Wanderingsheep]

Most foods have sugar in them so sugar is very hard to avoid. Dentists usually recommend that you only give fruit with a meal so that teeth are getting a break from the sugar inbetween.

Fwiw, I had terrible teeth as a child. All the enamel had come off the bottom front teeth due to the sugary antibiotics I used to get all the time. My adult teeth are fine - no fillings and I am 26, so just because your DD has a filling now, her adult teeth might be ok!

[Wanderingsheep]

Also, I heard somewhere that brushing teeth straight after meals is not good for teeth as it can weaken enamel, so you should wait until half an hour afterwards.

[nickschick]

Its her baby teeth and forwarned is forearmed now you can help her with brushing and with dietary advice - dont feel bad- theres worse things to feel guilt about.

[cupofteaplease]

Thanks so much for the reassurance- I felt so low earlier.

Can anyone be kind enough to answer my question about the best breakfast to offer? At home we usually have weetabix or special K during the week with porridge, brioche or scrambled eggs on toast at the weekend. At nursery she has a free choice from shreddies, weetabix or cheerios... I've heard there are 'hidden' sugars in cereals, so feel a little confused

[ilikeyoursleeves]

Sorry I don't know what cereals are best for no sugar (my DS has various types mainly weetabix, shreddies, muslei, rice crispies) but I was windering why it's best to brush teeth before breakfast? I always brush them after breakfast as I though that was best?

I also took DS to the dentist the other day and I asked if raisins were bad and he said 'no because it's natural sugar' I always thought sugar is sugar despite it being fructose, sucrose or whatever type? Or is that not the case...?

[Fliight]

Gorionine, ds2 has that too! I am perplexed by it. Yes, he has the odd bit of chocolate but I brush his teeth and he loves toothpaste to the point of carrying it around with him.
He hardly eats anything proper, but still breastfeeds a lot.

I wonder if it is to do with sucking because obv he feeds still at night,

any ideas anyone? He is nearly 3.

[Lizzylou]

DS1 had a filling when he was 3.5yrs old, it was just the one back tooth. I had been so PFB about his diet, drinks and brushing teeth. I almost wore sack cloth and ashes and offered myself up for flagellation I was so mortified.

We are super vigilant now with brushing and DS2 shows no signs at all of any problems, but I can sympathise completely as to how you feel.

My teeth are fine, have only had one filling ever (which then had to be extracted ), DH's not so great but it is tough when you've been so careful.

[gorionine]

Fliight, DD4 BF until 2 1/2 yo! (about the time we realised about the decay)I had never linked them together but you might have a point.

WRT breakfast cereals, I am pretty sure Weetabix (the original ones, not the mini ones with flavour) have no suggar added to them at all, nor does Ready Brake.

[theagedparent]

My dd had to have some teeth removed because of decay and I was told that was because of breastfeeding during the night. I was told to stop immediately

[jellybeang]

My dentist said to watch out for raisins & dried fruit like apricots because they are a bit sticky. They tend to cling to the molars & can cause decay if not brushed away properly.

[nancydrewrocks]

Don't feel bad about it.

My DD had a filling when she was 3 the dentist said some children are just more susceptible to decay than others. DD had virtually identical diet and dental care as DS (then 2 and his teeth are perfect)

He also mentioned that the vast majority of NHS dentists don't fill cavities (unless very serious) in milk teeth due to cost issue....might explain why it seems so unusual for children to have fillings these days.

[maxybrown]

I am terrified of the dentist and a few years ago, my friend used to come with me, so we would have appt at same time! She drank coke as her main drink, ate sweets all the time and often woke in the night to have a drink of coke......yet she never needed ANYTHING doing, me - drink mainly water and not into sweets ALWAYS needed something doing.

Dentist said it is in genetic make up. My teeth are terrible but DH's teeth are like steel and he never needs nothing doing either

I am hoping DS has teeth like him as he has been a nightmare to clean his teeth and tbh he does not hve them done every day it is a real stressful time to do it so you have my sympathies! He will let me do his molars now though, it is the front ones that is nigh on impossible, so I feel very bad about that but I reckon it is in the make up more than anything

[beammeupscotty]

Don't fret. I think your LO was unlucky enough to get your genetic blueprint re teeth! when older get them (molars) coated in this gel stuff which seals fissures.. thats what its called 'fissure sealant'!!! Being bit blonde - worked wonders with my kids no fillings at all.

[Nemain]

When my DS needed a filling (5yo) I was also mortified.

My dentist informed me that even milk contains sugar that rots the teeth after me telling him that DS has nothing other than chocolate (which is limited due to lactose intolerance) in way of sweets, no sugary drinks, no fizzy etc!

The way my Dentist made it sound, there was not much we can do as parents other than keep on with the oral hygiene we all know about and encourage drinking with a straw

He also said not to use children's toothpaste, but to use adult toothpaste and not allow the child to rinse his/her after brushing.

[strawberrykate]

Teeth are genetic in how they decay. My friend religiously went to the dentist all her life and is a clean freak but has work EVERY visit, poor woman. I on the other hand developed a huge fear of dentists whilst in the Soviet Union (no numbing for work/ gold teeth=los of screaming in waiting room shudder) and didn't go for 22 yrs until I gave in and went this year. Didn't need any work. So does this prove your NOT a bad mum if someone like me gets away with it?!

[jellybeans]

Out of my 5 DC, one so far has had a filling and all brush the same, good diet etc and are helped to brush till quite old. I felt terrible too but some kids have weaker enamel and no matter how much care you take many kids will have at least one filling. Don't feel bad over it.

[NumptyMum]

I've not read all the replies, but me and my sis have entirely different teeth - she's always had weaker ones more susceptible to problems, and mine have always been stronger.

And on the link (or not!) between bf and tooth decay, you might find the following interesting (from Unicef Babyfriendly newsletter, 2005, so not sure if now outdated):
Harry Torney, a holistic dentist from Ireland... was able to show that the evidence does not support the view, commonly held by dentists, that "prolonged" and "unrestricted" breastfeeding is likely to result in tooth decay. Harry also discussed his own research which showed that the rare cases of tooth decay in breastfed children were related to an existing weakness in the enamel - possibly the result of an antenatal event (ie during the pregnancy the mother experienced stress/trauma such as bereavement, or was medically diagnosed as being ill, or had reduced dairy intake).

So don't fret about continuing breastfeeding... cheese is a good suggestion for following fruit.