AIBU to get my toddler a scale and polish?

[SpoonyFox]

Hi, my LO is almost 2 and unfortunately has plaque already. This we believe was caused by having milk in the middle of the night. We have now stopped this and it’s been a few months but despite us always brushing LO’s teeth twice a day every day and having a good diet (no sweets or chocolates but does like a lot of fruit) the plaque just isn’t shifting. I’m considering booking LO in for a scale and polish. My husband think I’m being absolutely insane and that LO is far too young for such things but I’m worried that leaving it will cause her teeth to actually decay! Also it doesn’t look nice. I do have a tendency to obsess over things so and I am a highly anxious person so I was just looking for more opinions from others on what they would do? Thank you

Thanks for all your replies. Dentist have phoned me back and said she is too young but she has her next check up in January so they will assess it then and see if she would even be willing to sit still but to just keep brushing and be careful with sugar intake

Interesting you say that, I took calcium tablets every day during my pregnancy with her as my grandma lost all her teeth when she was pregnant so I wanted to protect my own teeth but maybe I’ve now given her issues with too much calcium 😫

Fruit has a lot of sugar in it. Try to clean after eating fruit or give carrot sticks etc instead of some of the fruit.

I was told to take calcium with vitamin d while I was pregnant (lol my gran had the same issue).

As a lifelong tartar sufferer I’m something of an expert on this! My dentist tells me that around 10% of the population is prone to build up and so need to be hyper vigilant. It has zero impact on decay and would happen regardless of diet. The things that are effective are thorough and frequent cleaning, preferably with an electric toothbrush, and flossing. Could you ask your dentist about the possibility of introducing your daughter to flossing @SpoonyFox? It’s going to have to be a lifelong habit if she’s prone to tartar buildup.

Never clean straight after eating

They wouldn't tolerate it I don't think. It can be sensitive and even painful, in adults who are very experienced with dental work. So the little one would be too uncomfortable. They can use a water spray thing but even that might be too unpleasant for a kid that young.
You should ask the dentist what they recommend. I remember having this stuff that you put on the teeth and it changes colour to show the bits you've missed when you brush. But that was when I was about 6.

Does she have a dummy? My little one had the same thing on bottom front teeth. I think sometimes eating/drinking and then having a dummy afterwards can cause it.

I don't think hygienists will see children, they don't at our NHS dentist. 17 year old ds needed a scale due to build up round his fixed braces and the dentist did it. Obviously very different to a toddler but the hygienist said it had to be the dentist as he's under 18

It’s not just about calcium. You need vitamin d and vitamin c and a whole host of other vitamins and omega 3 to build good teeth. I’ve been giving DS the wellbaby liquid since he was a baby

But they can if needed - they just go to the dentist for it who takes the scale and polish really slowly. I know as DN had to have one at 2.5 as sil wasn’t brushing his teeth or taking care of sugar intake

I have an impeccable oral hygiene routine and attend the dentist 6 monthly but I always have plaque build up.

I attended a fantastic dentist once who said that some people are much more prone to deposits of such things. I can't remember the exact reason she gave sorry, but it made a lot of sense.

Basically I can do everything right and my teeth are otherwise good (only ever had one cavity) I just get plaque build up.

Your daughter may just be unlucky and don't beat yourself up if you really are being thorough with her brushing and diet.

Oh really! Yes she does have a dummy! Did you stop with the dummy then? If so did it solve the plaque issue?

She has a liquid multi vitamin every morning. It’s me that took the calcium tablets

Same. We’re part of the unlucky 10%, it sounds as if OP’s daughter is too. In my case it seems to be genetic as my dad had exactly the same issue.

Xylitol. Pop a little bit on your toddler's teeth. Should also help keep any decay at bay/remineralise early decay.

No way will a toddler tolerate a scale and polish! I hate them and I'm 43! And going to the dentist doesn't bother me at all. Except for that!

Xylitol mints. Give her one every day after the morning brush. It stops plaque from building up as it has nothing to stick to.

The only thing that causes tartar build up is plaque being left on the teeth I.e. poor brushing. Everyone gets plaque build up, some people are more prone to that plaque becoming calculus/tartar but if the plaque is thoroughly brushed away daily the tartar cannot form.

There is no way in hell a 2yo will sit through a scale and polish, and if anything will likely put her off going to the dentist. Tartar itself won't cause decay and is relatively harmless at 2

Continue to thoroughly brush her teeth twice a day and visit the dentist for 6 monthly check ups. When she's older she can have it gently hand scaled off, but using a sharp pointy object in a wiggly 2yos mouth is not a good idea

Thanks her normal toothpaste does contain xylitol already. It I get an actual ‘xylitol paste’ it then doesn’t contain fluoride so I don’t know which is best!

Thanks just had a look but not recommended for under 3 unless you know of any that are suitable for her age?

You are far more likely to traumatised her with the noise and length of appointment so you struggle to get her to the dentist in future. They are milk teeth, it's not the end of the world they'll fall out soon.Just keep up with good oral hygiene.

Xylitol comes in a sugar-like form and you can cook with it, or pop a little bit on cereal, porridge or fruit. We use it in addition to fluoride.

we should form a club!!

Warning about Xylitol though if you have any dogs - it’s toxic for dogs, so if you’re using sugar free things with xylitol (or sorbitol), ensure that any dogs in the vicinity cannot reach them ever

You might think “a dog will never get at those things” but you’d be surprised. My house is Xylitol free 🙈