They both need fillings!

[APipkinOfPepper]

Just been to the dentist and both my DC need fillings. They are only 5 and 9. Surely hardly any children get fillings this young? Feeling a bit rubbish at the moment - how could I have let their teeth get that bad? Any tips to prepare them?

Do you still help with the 5 year old tooth brushing? Ds had to get a couple of fillings in baby teeth but dd has had none so far at age 13. Ds had none now that the baby teeth have come out (now age 10). Watch eating of dried fruit, crisps and sweets that can stick to the teeth

They are both for baby teeth. Neither of them really eat sweets much, and yes I do still help the 5 year old with brushing (maybe not well enough!!)

Fruit juice? I know a kid who had a super healthy diet and her parents thought they were being healthy by only giving her fruit juice/smoothies or water to drink. The acid in the fruit juice caused cavities at 5 years old.

Next time you are at the dentist, ask about molar sealant en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dental_sealant
totally worth the cost.

It is not so much the sweets but most food has added sugar in it, which the mouth bacterias just love. Crunchy veg (raw carrot, celery, fennel, radish, ...) or even a crunchy apple, pear, helps prevent tooth decay because you produce more saliva which washes bacteria away.

To prepare them, just tell the truth. It is important to cure the decay. It will be unpleasant but not painful. The only bit that will hurt a bit will be the injection but that you will be there with them , hold their hand and count to 20 and at 20 it will be over.

Even your 5 yo should brush his teeth with an adult fluoride paste. There are special double strength fluoride toothpaste if the problem is very severe www.amazon.co.uk/Fluocaril-Bi-fluore-250mg-Toothpaste-Protection/dp/B004HJM89G?tag=mumsnetforum-21 but don't use on your youngest

I've started using disclosing tablets a couple of times a week with ds1 (10). He wasn't brushing carefully enough and it seems to be helping him see for himself where he's not being as thorough as he thought.