Category: Health and Wellness
This is sort of a combination of issue of the day, and another post about folks who just shouldn't have kids.
Got a notice awhile back from Mimi's preschool. In MA if kids are in a preschool or daycare for at least four hours a day, parents must be given information about a "tooth brushing" program available and sign consent or decline. The catalyst for this? Turns out cases of advanced tooth decay were popping up as early as kindergarten.
?!?!?! Now really, I understand bad dental insurance, and even an absence of dental insurance. But I've seen public health offer dental care, and practitioners, if all you have is a form of Medicaid, there are those who accept it, especially for kids' dental care. Some child has a little discoloration or needs a filling, hey, doesn't mean they'll have rotten teeth or even that they have bad teeth, especially if the parent(s) are making sure they care for their teeth at home. But advanced dental decay?! At five?! I wish I had better cared for my teeth when I was younger, so I could have healthier teeth and a nicer smile, but I can't say I ever experienced "advanced decay". Are some parents not even teaching kids to brush and floss? You don't need any insurance for that and I believe most U S cities have fluoride in the water.
I made sure Mimi saw a dentist when it was first advised, at 3, and kept it up. I get on her to brush and do the flossing for her as a child this young usually can't master this task. It sounds harsh but personally I'm going to tie this to the other post and say if someone isn't willing to hands on parent, but dump it on a third party, or has a mindset that "They'll fall out and he/she'll get new ones." Um, yeah, with inflamed gums and possibly lacking a path for the new ones if the baby teeth fall out too early, um hmmm...anyway such a person should at least give not having any children some thought.
I totally agree with you. My mother taught me how to brush, though none of my family flosses to my knowledge. Still, I had white teeth and never had a cavity until I was at least 18 maybe older. There's no excuse for these poor children having such problems other than having neglectful parents. Also agree that some people should never have children or at least should wait until they're truly ready.
Yes, but I don't think anyone can be truly ready for becoming a parent. That is why many children are dumped on third parties because the parents already formulated that idea when they discovered the unplanned pregnancy, or discovered their child they wanted so much is too much for them. I do know what you mean though. If your gonna be a parent, you've gotta be willing to set aside time to teach your children things early on, and repeatedly make sure they're doing things correctly. If you're not willing to do that on a daily basis, then no, parenting is not for you.
If you don't want a child and have an unplanned pregnancy, abort it. Better yet, do the smart thing and use birth control so the chances of getting pregnant are minimised. There are some areas wherein I do think the government should help, certainly in general education. But there are others, like personal hygene, that should be the responsibility of the parents.
Hmm, a question of interest. Instead of this issue arising from the lack of dental care could it be parents using formula and/or bottles to long? I know one of my bestfriends let her son keep the bottle until he was past two, and he ended up needing surgery, and this isn't the only kid I've heard of formula and/or bottles becoming a long term problem for...Just a question of curiosity on my part. However, having asked my question, I have to say I agree. If you lay down and make the baby, stand up and take the responsibility or give the baby to someone who does want the responsibility and will take care to love and tend the baby no matter what...Sorry, coming from someone who is having trouble conceiving... :) Oh well, maybe one day. :)
I'm proud to say I've never had a cavity. I use to get so annoyed at the way my parents were always pushing me to brush more often, but I'm happy for it now. That being said, certain people just have those weaker teeth that seem to be more prone to decay, through little fault of their own. Also, it really depends how much sugar you consume, whether food or drink.
I have a little cousin who back teeth rotted out because grandma who was taking care of him gave him juice, juice and oh I think some more juice? Parents are in army and when came home on leave got verry mad when he saw back of baby teeth rotted out.
Interesting question about bottles and formula. It seems modern parents want to keep kids infants for an extended period, for example my pet peeve is the pacifier after age one. I had someone working w me years ago whose pet peeve was "drinking out of a bottle at 3, 4, 5 years old." ?!?!?! There's formula that's specifically for ages 9 months thru 2 years, but Mimi got cow's milk @ one, no more formula. And I worked in a day care in Florida years ago where two three-year-old boys who were cousins had very misshapen teeth and I wonder if it was from letting them fall asleep with a bottle of something other than water in their mouths (condition called 'bottlemouth' from soaking the teeth in sugar).
Yes, I have heard that letting a baby suck on the bottle for tooo long can cause tooth decay, and also letting them fall to sleep with them can cause problems too. Some ppl just have a hard time braking kids from binkies and bottles, but the kids are better for it if its done sooner than later so there is not an attachment formed that is even harder to brake further down the line.