to think my dentist is a ....

[onestepbeyond]

sanctamonious patronising arse! My daughter eats a healthy diet and has good teeth (with no plaque / decay) that we clean twice a day everyday. So why does my dentist feel the need to talk to me like I'm feeding her sugar cubes washed down with coke?

Yes I let her have an occasional treat and (apparently the biggest sin of all) fruit but does that really mean I need to leave everytime feeling like a terrible mother and about 2ft tall.

Rant over!

I've never received any lectures on healthy eating, in relation to dental health, from the DC dentist. I'd give them short shrift if they wasted my time by doing this on every visit.

A dentist I had many years ago threatened to bung you off their books if they believed you didn't floss. He said he only wanted patients who cared for their teeth properly.

No, nor me ardomay in fact, my dentist said he could tell that as a family, we had a good, healthy diet.
Shame all people don't have great dentists :(

Shame all dentists don't treat families with good, healthy diets

But little point in lecturing those, and every time, who obviously do appear to have healthy teeth and diets

Iirc under the new, new NHS scheme, dentists won't get paid unless they deliver these messages so maybe we'll see all those who want to be soared the oral health education going private and all those who will sit there pretending to listen, being treated on the NHS. Funny old world.

Spared. Not soared

That's interesting Mrsmorton - I'm very good at listening and nodding in the right places (as long as I can have a rant about it afterwards!)

NHS for you then onestep !!!

My dentist does the same thing. I eat healthy, brush my teeth, drink water after treats. Still get cavities.

I just tell him I'm already paying the price with my wallet. He doesn't need to rub it in.

i'm a dentist too you have to write in notes that you have given advice re drinks, food, brushing with fluoride toothpaste including strength whether you have demonstrated toothbrushing as well as actual treatment like sealants or fluoride varnish it's parts of terms of service I work in Scotland where it is part of childsmile programme
they check up on us too occasionally
unfortunately if you said you told me that last time and the time before I would have to carefully write in notes onestep did not wish advice on dental hygiene or dietary advice as heard this last visit and would have to re write all the stuff you did not want to hear out in full anyway...... it is tedious writing it all up sometimes just as it must be for the parents and child doing the right thing, I tend to just re iterate the advice in terms such as you already know the milk and water you are giving wee angus is the best for their teeth etc

some patients really eat healthily but children generally do not end up with 5 holes before 5th birthday because they are drinking water and eating pasta with broccoli, neither do they have 5 holes because they drank one cup of vimto at a party 3 months ago

in my experience most 5 year olds are eating one small bag of sweets a day, whether haribo chocolate buttons etc some eat much more ( I do work in a deprived area though)

I saw a dentist recently for the first time in eight years - he was great!

Anyone who chooses to spend their life looking into other people's mouths is likely to be a bit odd anyway. Ignore.

Anyone who chooses to spend their life looking into other people's mouths is likely to be a bit odd anyway. Ignore.

Objection did u mean to be so rude? Tell that to your dentist next time u get toothache, dare ya

Hmm I'm a dentist but I think objection may have a point :)

have often wondered that myself- it's a very specific vocation!
my dentist has never given me dietary advice (is it because I'm so old??)

Actually I quite appreciate the advice sometimes Not dietary advice, I know all that... but I didn't realise flossing was something they actually do recommend I thought it was just something they did on American TV films

I thank my lucky stars that there are people odd or not that like to look inside my childrens and my mouth every six months!

I did notice that when I was making a financial contribution towards my check ups that the (different) dentist would insist I saw the hygienist who would always ask me if I floss. I always answered "no, because I can't" my teeth were too tightly packed together. She would always try (and fail) to floss my teeth "ooh yes, they are close aren't they!" I don't know why she was so insistent about it; I don't build up plaque at all ~ I know I'm very lucky, but it's not hard to see that I don't.

I think you're right CorusKate Last time I went it was an electric toothbrush iv drugs equivalent

(Not an NHS rant, because I'm not in the UK, but...)

I really wish all the health professionals would coordinate their messages. DD2 (2.5) has food allergies, so no dairy or egg for her. In the past 6 months we have been to various appointments:
Paediatrician: her diet is great, you're doing a great job, she's very healthy. Keep using oat milk, rice milk is the work of the devil
Dietician: oh, she's having too much in the way of bread/pasta etc. give her more fruit. I don't think oat milk is very good, switch her on to rice milk
Dentist: she's got great teeth. Don't give her fruit it's the work of the devil. She can't possibly be getting enough calcium without dairy products
Nurse: would you not try her on a piece of cheese? And she needs more fruit.

Aaarrrrggggghhhh.

I have a Waterpik now, so I brush with an electric brush, floss, use Tepe brushes and that. I hope it's enough.