To wonder where am I going wrong,ds has really bad teeth?

[FreakinRexManningDay]

Ds was at the dentist for a check up and it turns out he needs 5 fillings. He is 12. The dentist was asking me about what we eat,brushing etc and I could see by her face that she thought I was lying but I wasn't.

Breakfast is porridge or cheerios with milk.
Teeth brushed.
Lunch in school is brown bread,turkey,butter sandwich,apple,banana and a special K yoghurt bar thing (low in sugar).

Dinner is usually homemade,things like savory mince,cassaroles,pasta bakes etc. Sauces are homemade.

Snacks are usually things like nuts,carrot sticks,a yoghurt.

Sweets or cakes are a rare treat and he always brushes before bed. He is only allowed fizzy drinks at parties and he's not the type to buy sweets and junk foods in the shop,he's very sporty so saves his money for new sports gear. I really wasn't expecting his teeth to be so bad,I feel like a shit parent.

HexU, my eldest had hyper mineralisation, on his front teeth as well. He never had them coated but hasn't a single filing so they won't necessarily be weakened. We did splash out to have them whitened though when he was 18. They look great now.

Things are really really tight here so although its €2 a week,we are paying back a loan for dd's braces,I'm being hassled for school fees by the school,€44 x3 and am trying to get together the €250 school fees for secondary school.
Yes I'm in Ireland. It fucking sucks being here. Although we have gp visit cards which are brilliant otherwise we couldn't afford €60 for a doctor visit and then whatever the meds cost.

And before anyone hops on me I could afford my children before the recession hit.

Blimey, OP, I am so ignorant I didn't know that Eire doesn't have the same kind of arrangements as in the UK . I mean, I do realise its a separate country, but I for some reason assumed the historic links and physical proximity meant that Eire would have something similar for free healthcare.

And school fees? For state schools? God I had no idea..

This thread has been an education for me too.

Its commonly known as arts and crafts money beastofburdon and yes they are state schools. We are trying to get some sort of book rental scheme going cause the price of books and uniform is awful.
Sorry I'm derailing my own thread.

Our government ministers don't go hungry to pay for school,that's for sure

Well given the current recession in Eire I would hope they will pay sme attention to child health and fund something more sensible.... Yes, I know. Not likely to happen.

I have friends in the same situation as you in the Republic

My dd2 was at the dentist this afternoon, that's why I replied to your thread earlier, it was in my head.

We're just back - she has some problems with her teeth (shes almost 6). The dentist recommended eating fruit in 2 lots through out the day, if that makes sense. Some for break, then some maybe later in the day or after dinner, as opposed to "grazing" throughout the day. He also told us at night, when she brushes her teeth, not to rinse the toothpaste. I feel for you, it's so disheartening & I know, I feel absolutely shite even though out of my 3, she's the one that doesn't have a sweet tooth or would want sweets.

Good to know MoominMammasHandbag - it's the back molars but they are coating then in fluoride coating in hope it strengths them - apparently.

Though dentist is never very forthcoming about how long this will go on or if there is a long term solution.

I do feel for you FreakinRexManningDay - I'd picked up GP costs in Ireland were a real problem but school fees too - it must be really hard.

That's a good idea wiggles I will definitely try that.

Child health will be bottom of the pile in the budget. Actually anything to do with children will be bottom of the pile. My friends dd has downs syndrome and she lost her SNA (special needs assistant) for her mainstream class. Having downs isn't enough she needs another 'need',in a class of 30 children some with other disabilities/ disorders. Great isn't it. But Europe doesn't see that because when they visit they dine on salmon and drink the best wine and are chauffeured around.

fruit, yoghurt, cheerios' , cereal bar all very sugary (fruit sugars if not added). presumably some of these teeth are not long through or perhaps still erupting :( Might be worth getting another opinion

Also make sure that he is brushing his teeth before breakfast in the morning and certainly not within 20 minutes after eating. Bacteria build up on the teeth overnight and if you then eat breakfast without brushing this gives the bacteria a chance to thrive on the sugars, producing lots of acid which starts to dissolve the enamel.

Many people then compound this by brushing straight after breakfast which in combination with the acid conditions produced by eating, actually removes the enamel as well as the plaque on the teeth.

Tatyo are the worst possible thing for teeth according to my dentist
And sorry to be cynical but I would get a second opinion, being paid per filling makes them very flahuilach with their opinions

Tayto! Crisps

Have just seen a hygienist today myself!

I've always had good teeth and only have one (recent) filling but found out today that my enamel is starting to weaken so she told me:

Fruit juice and fruit, try to limit amount of times during day you have these, smoothies are especially bad; try to eat less often and avoid grazing (esp on fruit), brush teeth as soon as you get up, then after breakfast use fluoride mouthwash. Electric toothbrush is better as it stops you brushing too hard, and leave it about half an hour after eating before brushing.

Basically, fruit is the enemy!! People get overexcited about what is 'healthy' for snacking, but you are actually better having chocolate as it washes off your teeth, fruit sugars stick.

Totally sucks as well about how you have to pay in Eire, hope things pick up for you soon.

disclosing tablets would be ideal to see if he is missing areas even though he is brushing. Boots have them under their own brand I think.

Fissure seaks are standard in Ireland where I live and make a big difference.

how were his baby teeth?

ok just spotted you're in Ireland.

the school fee you're referring to is the voluntary contribution? go to school and tell them you're not in a position to pay this. Offer to pay bit by bit and tell them thats the best you can do. your childs school place does not depend on it and you will not be the first to let them know this.

If you are paying for dentist visit it must be for a secondary school pupil. did he have a visit in sixth class? did anything show up then? if nothing did it would make me wonder if a private dentist is just seeing euro signs.

The braces are a pain to pay for. I've just finished paying for my dd. most orthdontists offer payment by installments. don't forget to claim the tax back on any payments you make. The orthodontist will sign it for you.

A session with a hygienist might help to ensure that he is brushing sufficiently - I know it is another cost, but they are really good.

Agree with Dahlen re second opinion because in permanent teeth if she is a crap (inexperienced) dentist, 5 is a lot to cock up in one go.

Sorry meant to add, it's not your fault btw. 5 fillings done by a competent dentist will be fine and last years. You don't want then unnecessarily though.

Please get a second opinion. When my dd1 was 9 I took her to emergency dentist with abscess.I was informed after xrays etc she needed 7teeth removing. Went ahead as advised and since have found out this is not normal practice. She has only ever drank water, ate veg, but only fruit she ate was apples. Her Dad has bad teeth yet I am 38 and 1filling.everyone's different.

You said he drinks a lot of milk... Milk is great for calcium and nutrients, but it's absolutely LOADED with lactose which is sugar. 200ml of whole milk has 13.9g of sugar - full fat Coke has 21.2g ,so there is almost two thirds the sugar of Coke in milk.

CoolaScmoola - it's not the amount of sugar really because all starch gets converted by saliva to sugars anyway. What really matters is how long and how often your teeth are exposed to sugars.
www.dentalfearcentral.org/faq/tooth-decay/