Who is BU regarding babies and dentists?

[Kayano]

Dd had 2 teeth at 18 weeks and I can see 2 more about to push through.

Very fast and unexpected!

I diligently went and got baby toothpaste and baby toothbrush and brush them twice a day and bought a spare toothbrush for her to hold and play with.

I was at the dentist on Friday (out in 5 mins, no problems!) and took the opportunity to register dd and book her in with me for 6 months time
(NHS dentist - lovely and no problems)

Dh has a cousin who doesn't brush her kids teeth and has said you don't need to bother til they are one! Dh also goes to his old family dentist because he likes them whereas we go to a local one.

His NHS dentist has (annoyingly) told dh that babies do not need to be registered before the age of 2 and not checked before 2.5

So now dh thinks I am pen for cleaning her teeth!

To put this in context his own niece had 6 teeth removed at 2.5!!!! They didn't clean her teeth or register her with the dentist til later on. I am of the opinion that this shouldn't happen and as long as dd has teeth she should have them

1. cleaned
2. checked regularly by a dentist

So who is BU? Me and my dentist or DH and his?

I would clean their teeth as soon as they have them but my experience has been that dentists (NHS anyway) won't register them until they are 2-3.

TBH if they have a good diet and brushing regime there should be no reason they should need to be seen before that unless their is an underlying problem (e.g. like a friend in my sons class that has no enamel on some of his teeth - they came through that way)

Would like to add that 9 month old just got her 1st two teeth last week!

She did eat rubbish but they didn't clean her teeth! They gave her the toothbrush and let her crack on with it!

Resulted in the front few being the only clean teeth.

She has a few second teeth at 6 now and they are already staining.

makes me very sad

I think you are right to clean your DD's teeth. She will be used to it and not start clamping her jaws shut when she is 2. The same with dental appointments, really all the dentist does is look at the teeth and how they are developing, and give the child a sticker until they are over 2. Again if they are used to it they won't be afraid to open their mouths. But at least the dentist will have seen for themselves that there are no problems, or deal with them before they become serious.

Tell your DH that there is a proven link between gum disease and heart disease, which is why good oral hygiene and dental checks are so important. They are an investment in long term health. A dentist can also spot other problems like oral cancers, and refer to specialists for treatment.

We registered DS when he was about 4 months old and he's sat in the chair, played with a mirror and had the dentist look in his mouth.

We have family check ups so DH takes him while I am checked and DS watches, then DS is done (usually on my lap) and then he demands to watch DH being checked too.

Dentist gives him a sticker and a poster (usually) and lots of praise. Still doesn't make him keen to brush his teeth though

odd we have family appointments - and they had a look before 1 for all of them.

DC would be on my lap and they'd have a peer in just to have a cursory check. My dentist was expecting my youngest to go on the chair and open her mouth on her own at 2 for a proper count and check which she did.

Carpe and hex is that private or NHS? I have found it has been NHS not taking them earlier, private will probably take them as soon as you want as long as you pay.

Course you are not being unreasonable, dunno why DH would think so. My main worry is that my headstrong DD aged 20mths will NOT let me brush her teeth. She wants to do it herself and knocks the brush out of my hand etc. Despite having her own one. It's a funny sight seeing her brush her teeth with a toothbrush in either hand, but she's crap at it . I recently started doing the evening brush after her milk and we do mornings as well after berakfast. I will take her to the dentist next time I go.

we do family appt for check up, have done since DS was tiny. all its ever been for him is sit on lap ( then chair when bigger) and dentist "counts" his teeth.

He had teeth at 4 months and all 20 by age 3 IIRC. Now age 6 he has 5 adult teeth and a few gaps. Dentist has succeeded in motivating him to give up thumb sucking where I had failed.

ours is a nhs dentist - we are in scotland though and they have a Childsmile initiative that encourage you to take the kids from birth or as soon as their first tooth appears

childsmile

Mines all NHS I am pretty sure they have to register the if you push the issue

YANBU, mine had their first appointment at about 22 months but I'd been cleaning them since they were a year old. The appointment was to register them, DTS opened his month, DTD didn't, but its getting them used to going and the dentist talked to me about their dental routine but stressed it was diet at this stage - no jiuces. He has asked to see them again in 4 / 5 months time.

Spatsky it's an NHS one.

Had to really search to find a NHS one then first NHS one was awful.

This one is great - I worry that when we move we'll not be able to fine another. I've had some family members who've had some horrific experiences with private ones recently which adds to that concern.

We didn't push - they automatically register them - well first two were toddlers when we joined and then they just added youngest as soon as she was born when we had our next family check up.

My dentist is private, but they don't charge for check-ups on children.

As soon as my dd was born i began taking her to the dentist when i went. It gets them used to it and shows them that their teeth are important.

Your DH is BU.

I presume you are not in Scotland, I was hounded by my HV and GP to get the dc registered and seen by a dentist at 6 months, and they dont really need to open their mouths the dentist would just rub a finger along the gums to make sure everything felt ok until they would open their mouths!

Mine are older but they used to looked after by receptionist whist I was in and dentist would just check them in buggy after my appointment as soon as teeth appeared even before they where registered. No wonder we have kids with bad teeth with that attitude.

Poor little thing will be embarrassed about those when she is old enough to realise. I hope she doesn't begin to get teased at school about it. Terrible parenting.

I can't believe I just wrote that. Off to change nickname to JudgementalCow.

Your DH is BU.

A dentist told my friend that she didn't have to worry about brushing her DD's baby teeth because they're going to fall out and be replaced anyway My dental practice manager friend said he should have been struck off for giving advice like that.

my dentist registers babys very early can be done at birth,he says let them play with a toothbrush but use a cloth to clean as soon as teeth appear.
he always fits in the entire family at the same time and is open weekends so no time off work needed. ive done that with all my kids my mum did it with me,and i dont even have any fillings

YANBU. Of course you need to brush their teeth. It actually tells you that in all the parenting books including the one the NHS gives you, if only people bothered to read them.

DP and I regularly used to argue about what constituted a "pea-sized" amount of toothpaste:-)

DD had her first dental appt at 18 months. Don't know if that is normal, though. I don't suppose a huge amount is likely to have gone wrong by then.

Ours is NHS didn't have to push to get registered just did it. We have a family appointment. It's more to get them used to it when they are little I guess. All they did/do is sit on my lap and open their mouths and he has a quick look.

(dentist here)
Whilst agreeing with tooth brushing from whenever the first tooth emerges, and having an informal check at the appointment of the parent or sibling from the earliest convenient age, I would like to be clear that I do NOT recommend use of toothpaste before about 18/12 due to the
risk of swallowing , and subsequent fluorosis.

it sounds to me that some of the confusion is between formal appointments versus informal checks / confidence building experiences. I expect my colleagues all agree about dealing with little ones, but not about how / whether this should be charged / claimed.

madonnaKebab many moons ago i used to get a flouride free baby toothpaste but i havent had another little one for ages till now. can you still get the flouride free ones or are they concidered not needed these days?