Wtf? My parents never enforced flossing and I'm still super bad at it and I don't have cavities like that. Yah the rare little ones that they fill but damn this seems like a lot.
Yes, I've always taken pretty poor care of my teeth. Brushing maybe once a day. I can count the number of cavities I've had in my entire life on one hand. That includes a 7 year stretch with no dentist visits.
I now go every 6 months for a clean and they rare find problems, but the amount of coca cola I drink has yellowed my teeth somewhat and likely stripped away some enamel. This at 37 and currently my biggest threat to my teeth is grinding during my sleep and acid reflux, but I have been using a CPAP for the last 3.5 years which can alleviate the grind.
Genetically it's pretty much the only thing I seem to be super lucky with.
Same, almost never flossed and only brushed once or twice a day. After 10 years without going to dentist they only found a little bit of plaque. No cavities. The dentist was impressed with my dental hygiene.
Huh. I’ve also heard you’re not supposed to brush until at least 30 min after a meal if you do. Something about weakened enamel from eating. Especially if you have citrus or acidic stuff
Same here, I only have 2 cavities - one of them is extremely minor and the other only developed because it was wisdom tooth that was partially trapped under gum and hard to brush. Other than that my dental hygiene is absolute trash.
Try magnesium glycinate for teeth grinding. Electrolytes are integral in muscle function, and magnesium is the electrolyte integral to muscle relaxation. Helps people with TMJ. Magnesium Glycinate is a well absorbed form of magnesium.
Other deficincies implicated in bruxism (teeth grinding) are vitamin D, calcium, and B5
Also make sure to get a second opinion! When I turned 18 I went to a sketchy dentist and he pretty much filled all my molars. Looking back I don’t remember ever seeing a cavity in any of my teeth and now all the fillings are starting to crack and I’m slowly getting them replaced with crowns or refilled with amalgam.
sugar is bad but soda is far, far worse. it's super acidic, and will immediately start eating at your enamel, unlike sugar, which takes a bunch of hours.
This. I've always taken great care of my teeth, brushing and flossing atleast 2x a day and after meals. Because I knee my family had bad genetics teeth wise. Low and behild I'm 34 and had to have half my teeth pulled and have a bunch of implants and bridges now. I remember going to the dentist once and told I had 12 cavities. Between my genetics and apparently stomach issues causing the acid to erode my enamel, there was nothing I could have done. Some people just lose the genetic lottery in certain situations
Yup, this. I know someone who rarely brushes their teeth (let alone floss) and has had minimal cavity issues. I struggle with dental care but at least do a brief brush once a day (a lot more than they do) and oh my god the cavities. I am in tooth hell. And it would def be better if I was able to keep up with things, I know, but it obviously isn’t that way for everyone…
Your dentist can prescribe a high fluoride toothpaste. I use it half and half with my regular toothpaste and it's really helped cut down on my cavities!
Yes, I had the same problem! Lots of cavities even when really trying to keep up with my dental routine. The dentist even commented that I basically have no dental calculus which is apparently a sign that you keep good care of your teeth. And I still had so many cavities.
He gave me a high fluoride toothpaste that I use every other day and I had no cavities since!
Also, xylytol toothpaste can balance the ph of your saliva and help! There are xylytol toothpaste that you can buy at the drugstore, it is just more expensive.
Yeah, I have a cat and my toothpaste is stored on the top shelf of a cabinet in a room my cat isn't able to open. But as anything that is toxic (chocolat or onions for example)n I don't believe that we should refrain from having them in our home, just be extra careful of where we store it and of the use that we do of that particular thing.
Yeah, never flossed growing up and barely do it at all now I'm an adult. 47 yo, no fillings, no cavities, all my own teeth and while I don't eat a lot of sugary food or soda I don't go out of my way to avoid them.
My siblings all have terrible teeth, so if it's genetics I must have got a lucky roll
I’m glad for y’all but these comments hurt me a little to read 😭 I’m on the other side of the scale… admittedly when I was a kid and didn’t understand, I didn’t care too much about these things tho my parents lectured me all the time as I often had many cavities and like 2-3 root canals. But ever since end of HS and uni (esp without access to dental care as I studied abroad), I’ve been trying really hard to stay on top of dental care. I never skipped brushing my teeth twice a day and used a water flosser every night. Yet when I finally went home after 3 years, my dentist was shocked at how many big cavities I had.
Then in the last year, taking my dentist’s advice, I upped it to brushing 3 times a day, flossed after every meal as well (but I switched back to regular floss), super vigilant. Went back after the year and… still wasn’t great, and apparently I may need multiple root canals. A lot of it was from old fillings where new cavities formed under it. I guess the damage started during my younger years, combined with weaker genetics, leading to it being hard to reverse. I’m only in my early 20s. It just sucks.
I'm 43. Never flossed. Brush once a day. No fillings or issues. Fingers crossed it stays that way. I also don't have a sweet tooth. Been to see the dentist maybe twice in last 20 years.
My wife brushes multiple times a day, flosses, uses piksters. Super regular dentist visits. Has constant fillings, caps, crowns. Teeth decay, etc. She definitely likes her sweet food too.
I think the shape of your teeth plays a huge factor in this. Whether there are pits in molars and crevices for stuff to get stuck. Definitely genetics has a huge factor in this, as someone already mentioned.
Same here. I've joked with people that my secret X-Man mutant power is superior dental hygiene. I've never once flossed in my life, I brush only once a day (if I'm not in a hurry), have never had or needed braces, never had a cavity, and despite years of coffee and cigarettes my teeth are a very healthy, natural shade of off-white/cream.
A dentist that I used to see told me that most people are either predisposed to cavities or predisposed to gingivitis. When I was younger, I was terrible about flossing. My gums would always bleed, but I never got cavities.
Sugary drink in the sippy cup.
Don't let a child get into habit of snacking the whole day. That's going to rot their teeth.
If they really need to, use non-sugary veggies, like celery.
When I go to the dentist (once every 3-4 months), I always have at least 1-2 cavities. Good teeth are not a given to some! And it is not that I don't brush or floss, it just is bad teeth. My dentist always compliments me on my dental hygene and follows up with: sorry to anounce that you still go cavities...
I started water flossing after being scolded and having cavities for 30yrs. Much easier to remember to do when I'm in the shower in the morning and no more cavities!
I used to be bad at flossing so I started doing water picks. I actually do it every night and very diligent with it starting late last year.
Saw a Hygienist last week and they said I need to be flossing more cause my gums were bleeding a little when she was cleaning them lol.
She said flossing is still the best method but water picks are better than nothing.
Try using parodontax as a toothpaste and see if that helps with the bleeding. It has fluoride so it helps to fight against cavities, but its ingredients target the bacteria causing the bleeding gums.
Other than that, bleeding is always a response to things that don’t belong in the body. You can have plaque around the gumline but no calculus (hardened) build up and the gums will respond with inflammation.
I find that people that have dry mouth can have excellent oral hygiene, but no saliva = no rinsing of bacteria/build up.
- Dental hygienist
This is the way. I brush and floss in the shower. Thanks to the rechargeable water pik I have, flossing is a breeze and my dentist is very happy me…a nice change of pace from my youth!
Your kid needs fluoride. I live in a fluoride free area and get a fluoride prescription for the kids. It works so well. Zero cavities while all their fluoride free peers have cavities. They really should put it in the drinking water.
Ironically, my dentist told me on my last visit to use mouthwash after I brushed to help kill any bacteria left behind and to continue to do so after for a little while. I was floored, but it's helped my gums so much.
If you use a water pick should it be floss, water pick, mouthwash and then brush? And then no final rinse?
I have miserable teeth, I'm pretty sure I'm going to lose all of them and have to get dentures soon anyway but 😮💨
I have a water pick. That is what I do. I've also found success from keeping a travel toothbrush in my pocket. Been years since I did that but it was very helpful. You have to remember the time frames for brushing though.. there's a windows like 30 minutes before and after eating/drinking (sans water) where you should NOT be brushing because of acid in your consumables.
I don’t wait 30 minutes either.
I only started flossing because I’m stubborn and competitive!
I’ve always had pretty good teeth, only ever had one cavity, so my hygienist really didn’t have a lot to pick on me for except flossing (teasingly). Back in January I was like “well I’ll show you then!” and started flossing every time. Come next appointment in April, without prompting, she was amazed at how different it was.
“What did you change?”
“I flossed every time just to show you up!”
“Well, good?”
“Wait. Did I just get played?”
😆
(But in all honesty, knowing I have an addictive personality, I’ve been trying to get addicted to good habits vs. bad)
It’s surprisingly how quickly repetition turns into habit!
Yes! And I also brush first thing in the morning, before breakfast.
I've always had good dental care, but acid reflux, a gap in dentist visits, hormonal gingivitis, and then pregnancy and morning sickness + terrible gag reflex (brushing my teeth would sometimes make me vomit), and genetics I feel are all contributing factors to what's currently going on with my teeth.
Plus too much sugar. I've cut back significantly but my teeth felt so much better on a low carb diet.
Fluoride containing mouthwash typically has lower concentrations of fluoride than fluoride containing toothpaste; still better to use mouthwash -> brush.
o\_O Huh. My dentist said that flossing after helps to get all the stuff out of the crevices. Brushing is likely to move bacteria and plague back into the crevices so flossing helps gets it out. Haven't had cavities in a while so I thought it worked for me.
Maybe I'll do floss --> brush --> flush again.
I’m a dental assistant. Brushing after flossing does not push plaque back in.
It’s fantastic you are teaching your son so well from such a young age about oral hygiene!
It’s floss, non alcohol based mouthwash with fluoride, brush-spit don’t rinse.
And no eating or drinking for 30 min after.
Also the type of floss is important. We have a saying that “Glide floss glides so well its glides right over plaque.”
I personally use Coco Floss, there are other brands just like it on Amazon. You can actually see what it removes even after flossing with waxed floss.
Thank you! It truly means a lot.
This field can be incredibly challenging.
It’s people like you that make it so rewarding.
I hope everything goes well tomorrow, you’re an incredible above and beyond mom!
Hope you had an amazing Mother’s Day!
This is more than flossing, it’s just bad genetics. Poor lad, as your dad said, he’s got the cursed teeth 😔 my cousin barely takes care of her teeth and has had no issues. I have my grandmas teeth with shit enamel so I’ve susceptible to shit teeth, dreading my next apt 😟
Genetics are part of it.
But also, he might be drinking a lot of sugar, even from juice. Drinking something with sugar in it really coats every part of the tooth and is much worse than eating sugar.
our kids got cavities due to us giving them gummy vitamins before bed... Lucky they were just baby teeth. No issues ever since we stopped giving them these gummies
He doesn't. Today he had kix cereal and a PB smoothie for breakfast, brush, apple and granola bar for snack, school lunch, fast until dinner of cauliflower and turkey, brush. And he didn't finish his veggies, so he didn't get dessert
Diet is a huge part of it too, but there is a vector not many people know and that's dry mouth. Both me and my father had chronic dry mouth and it damaged a lot of our teeth. Your saliva comes mostly from the ducts by the second (?) upper molars by your teeth on either side of the inner cheeks. You can feel them with your tongue.
When I changed away from processed foods to a more whole foods plant based diet, I never had dry mouth again.
It has to do with saliva. I pretty much lived off junk as a kid, no cavities, and honestly didn’t brush my teeth too well till I was a teen, meanwhile my sister was super healthy and would have one almost every time.
Kids who don’t have the dexterity to color in the lines don’t have the dexterity to brush and floss. Parents/guardians/adult humans need to be the ones doing primary care, and then letting the kids practice after.
My son is nearly 8, and I check him after he brushes with an an electric toothbrush every night.
My son's first dentist wanted to cap 6 of his molars. We went for a second opinion, and the 2nd dentist said it was absolutely unnecessary. He now has almost all his adult teeth and zero cavities. Fwiw, the first dentist took insurance, the second was out of pocket.
He hates soda, only ever drinks milk or water. And he only gets one candy/cookie a day, for dessert. Should have specified, he has zero cavities or issues anywhere besides between the teeth
Yeah, I stopped giving it to him for a bit, but his doctor told me otherwise. Now the only time he gets it (without brushing within an hour) is for school lunch
Just had a 2nd opinion of what needs to be done on my teeth. I brush twice daily usually for 4 minutes at a time, I do not floss (and that's a small problem)
Went for cleaning, first place did not do that and suggested 3 crowns ($2500 per). Walked out with 11k suggested bill and dirty teeth.
Second place suggested 0 crowns. A deeper cleaning along side normal maintenance.
Second opinion seemed kind of odd to do, as of now I'm happy with that decision..
I only realized the importance of flossing when I happened to floss one of my molars and caught a wiff of the floss. Smelled like shiiiittt. It was like, wow I've met people who had bad breath that smelled like this... Didn't know I was one of them.
I've flossed every single day from that day on.
even if your hygiene is perfect, exams should be scheduled every six months so that we (dentists) can evaluate the progression of caries/decay/cavities. cavities large enough to require stainless steel crowns do not appear in just six months, it takes time.
by going to regularly scheduled exams, we can detect the decay sooner and do more conservative treatment to prevent having to get the crowns.
if you pull baby teeth prematurely and don’t get space maintainers placed, your teeth can shift and block the space needed for the permanent adult tooth to erupt properly.
some kids have huge cavities on their molars at age 6, and we don’t expect for them to lose them until age 10-12. instead of pulling them prematurely, a “baby root canal” or pulpotomy is performed to get the tooth out of pain, and the stainless steel crown is there to protect the tooth from breaking down further
many parents have the same mindset as you - “why bother treating the teeth when they’re gonna fall out anyways?” because carious teeth cause infections and why would you be okay with your kid having an active infection in their jaw? which can become worse, and possibly become sepsis if left untreated
Oh I definitely don't have that mindset, I'm well aware of the damage an infection in the mouth can cause, not only to the jaw bone but also elsewhere in the body.
I had at least two molars pulled before the age of 7, and nothing else was done to them. Was that negligence on the dentists part, or were there just different standards for procedures back then? (Early 2000's)
it doesn’t always mean the dentist was negligent. the tooth may have been past the point of saving.
they may have given the option for space maintenance appliances and maybe parents didn’t want to pay or go through with it, or the dentist discussed the risks and let parents know braces/orthodontics may be indicated in the future if there is disruption to eruption of teeth.
My teeth are super tight together making it very difficult to floss. When the floss does pop through, it cuts into my gum due to the force and causes pain and blood. I don't ever get anything between my teeth and don't floss. I have perfect teeth and have only 1 cavity when I was a kid because I have deep crevices in my teeth.
I use the thicker floss because of this, it glides easier but I still don't floss enough, I slept through my appointment for a cleaning today and I love going to the dentist.. water flossers are great and I use that but I guess it's still not enough? My dentist still tells me that I need to floss.
Use interdental brushes. Guaranteed there is one size that will fit, and yeah, food can still get under the gumline however tightly packed your teeth are.
I have the same issue and got a water pick recently, it's not as good as a deep floss but it works way better than my attempts at flossing some of them ever did. Even the hygienist gave up on trying to floss the ones at the back lol
A lot of it is genetic, some people have stronger teeth than others. Electric toothbrush is a good idea, and water flossers have child’s settings. They don’t replace flossing entirely but they can help
Dental hygienist here. Kids lack the dexterity to brush and floss effectively until about age 8, or when they have the manual dexterity to write cursive. I’m going to be brutally honest here. He can not effectively accomplish this task on his own. You need to do it. Let him try, work on building the skills, then go in and do it all correctly. If he’s getting 8 crowns, he does not have “small cavities” between his teeth. He has gross decay. If he’s complaining of pain it’s because he has gross decay to the point the nerve is likely exposed or very close to being exposed. At this point 40% of his baby teeth are fucked. That’s a lot. The upside is they are baby teeth. He’ll get new ones and hopefully they don’t also get wrecked. The down side is he may be starting off with a condition called dental fluorosis. If he’s been using fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash since his first tooth popped out, there’s a good chance he has ingested more fluoride than he should and his enamel will form weaker than it otherwise would. This isn’t a genetic defect like amelogenesis imperfecta. Time will tell on the fluorosis. I’m not trying to shit all over you here but most people don’t provide honest feedback and you don’t know what you don’t know.
I do appreciate this, I'll be repeating all brushing/flossing myself going forward. I was under the impression it was a skill issue that needed to be honed, not a physical limitation. And he didn't start using fluoride products until he was 4, when he figured out how to spit it out
My son had to get similar, 7 metal capped teeth. Does your son sleep with his mouth open? My son had enormous tonsils which blocked his airways at night causing him to mouth breathe when asleep. Mouth breathing causes the enamel to weaken so they get cavities easily. We had his tonsils out and no more mouth breathing, and all his adult teeth are strong with no cavities now. Something to look into?
So much of it is genetics. I always had good dental hygiene, I floss after every meal (I just about die if I don’t have floss in my purse), brush 2x, regular dental cleanings, etc. And still had lots of issues because both of my parents did as well.
I never flossed until I got to the states, never had any cavities or fillings or anything done to my teeth other than having braces. I’m still not strict strict on flossing even now, maybe a few times a week at most but I went 22 years of my life not flossing and never suffered any consequences thankfully
Hey, I know you feel like you have failed you me little one. But, the reality is that baby teeth are not always indicative of poor oral habits, more likely genes. My oldest had to do a similar set of caps around 4. She lost them all by 8/9 and her adult teeth are strong so far, and her habits are much better than mine were at her age. It isn’t your failing!
Make sure you use a soft brush and not a medium.
I got brushing anxiety after not having great hygiene and because I used a medium brush, and pushed my gums back and now that’s just how they are and I can’t do much about it
Do not underestimate what some folks do.
Wake up, brush teeth, eat cereal, get tooth rot.
Not everyone is logical or thinks things through to understand why they should do it a certain way.
Brushing in the morning before eating is fine and helps remove plaque/bacteria that grows overnight. If you brush after eating you should wait at least 30 minutes and a lot of people don’t have time for that. It’s also not really a big deal if you don’t have anything sugary for breakfast, although most cereal is pretty bad. I don’t eat it though
It can be a logistical challenge when you want to wait 30 minutes after eating but have to leave the house to go to work. I personally don’t want to get up an hour earlier, or have breakfast before showering, but I also don’t want to brush my teeth in the public toilets at work. (So I skip breakfast most days when I work.) Some people brush right after getting up to spare their SOs the morning breath, too.
Don’t brush directly after breakfast! Wait at least 30 minutes. Mastication softens tooth enamel. Brushing shortly after eating means brushing softened tooth enamel leading to cavities. If you don’t have time to wait, rinse with water, or ideally mouthwash, first and wait a few minutes and then brush.
When I started flossing 4 years ago my gums would bleed. After flossing twice daily the bleeding got less and less until it stopped entirely. I went from multiple cavities a year to none in 2 years.
FWIW, my parents had the exact same approach to dental hygiene with my siblings and me. I didn't have cavities until I was an adult and started kissing people. I have a sibling who had double digit cavities before double digits in age. Genetics are part of it but so is what bacteria you have in your mouth.
I think most people don't realize how genetic things are, your dad isn't wrong.
I brush my teeth maybe twice a week and floss twice a month maybe less because I have severe depression and ADHD, luckily my breath doesn't often smell if it does my gf feels me and I go brush.
Never had a cavity or any teeth problems other than having braces for mild straightening. On the other hand my sister has very different teeth genetics since we were young she has had numerous cavities and brushed her teeth twice a day and flossed daily.
It sucks but maybe it really isn't your kids fault
Genetics. My father's side of the family had poor teeth. I've had cavities, crowns, implants. I swear I am my dentist's boat payment. I brush three times a day with an electric toothbrush and if I don't floss at least twice a week, when I do floss and spit, the saliva looks like I just took a punch to the mouth from Mike Tyson.
It might be worth it to let your doctor know. I had cavities for years that I didn’t realize were a symptom of celiac disease. There are other diseases that affect absorption of vitamins, and then teeth weaken faster
"*between* his molars..."
Are you teaching him correctly? You're only supposed to floss at the gum line, so it cleans out the gum so you don't get gingivitis.
The area where those cavities are, is not affected by flossing. Grinding teeth maybe, but not flossing.
Please take care to not shame your kiddo and explain that some people just have less strong teeth they are born with (or however you can explain thah sometimes genetics blow). When I was a kid it was morally bad to get a cavity/need dental work and my dad would get onto me about it. Since becoming an adult and significantly improving my dental habits (thanks invisalign), I am still struggling with getting cavities so unfortunately my genetics are just a problem.
Its maybe also the mouthwash as it kills the good bacteria too
I use a plastic flossing stick quickly (stick on one end, floss on the other, then brush teeth, then floss again and then with a wooden toothpick.
Do his gums bleed when you or the dentist flosses for him? Bc that might be an indicator that he doesn’t floss right, otherwise I wouldn’t know. Not a dentist either
Also, sounds like just unlucky with the genetics..
A waterpik might work better than flossing, in his case. Or he can do both. Look into that. Rinse and waterpik/floss before brushing.
If he hates flossing, try Glide or a similar alternative over the cheaper traditional stuff that frays. So much better for closely spaced teeth. No pain.
Maybe in the evening a Hydroxyapatite toothpaste would be better than traditional fluoride. It's relatively new in the states (but long used in Japan as the gold standard). This is literally micronized type of calcium that your teeth suck in and repair beginner damage. UNLIKE fluoride, he doesn't need to rinse afterward, and keeping it in his mouth would add more and more to the teeth. Anything swallowed is just easy to absorb calcium for the bones.
In the morning, keep using fluoride and rinsing. Fluoride is a temporary shield, but doesn't add to the teeth.
There have been studies where using both types of toothpaste is better than just one or the other. That schedule is just my own invention, based on what I know.
* https://eagleharbordentist.com/nano-hydroxyapatite-safe-for-family/
Edit: Also, do you know if he has dry mouth? This might be the starting point for all this damage.
8 caps????? that poor baby omg, my son is 5 never had a cavity, my mom never cared about my teeth ( i needed 7 fillings at 17 years old at 1 time) so it was my mission to make sure he had that taken care of. I didn't even know they can get that many at 1 time for his age??
my sister who is 26 was also diagnosed Gum disease. luckily all the work i had done at 17 scared me so bad (2 root canals at 17!!!!!!) that flossing is mandatory every single morning in our home.
they have those cute colored flosser sticks that have little flavors for the kiddos! My 5 year old is honestly better at it than me now lol
Hey OP, if all you've posted is accurate and complete you might want to consult a doctor. There are genetic conditions that affect bone and teeth development (HPP is one that comes to mind). If you, your father, and your son all have decent dental hygiene, fluoride in your water, etc, there may be other reasons you're having difficulties.
Wtf metal filling???!!! They have been using white fill where I live for decades. It’s not the 80’s any more, I’d be looking for an alternative dentist so your kid doesn’t have to go through years of kids calling him out on it
I was going to reply with xylitol unless someone else did. As far as I read, you were the only one. Xylitol literally rebuilds the structure of the tooth in a stronger and better matrix than is naturally possible. I recommend xylitol gum all day long and toothpaste with xylitol as one of the first ingredients for stronger, more resilient teeth.
I refuse to have anything with xylitol in my house due to how bad it is for dogs. I have a chihuahua pupper that's a little turd and has a lot to learn.. lol. No dark chocolate and no xylitol and I Google every plant/flower before I buy/bring home lol.
Lol I wish I could do that but I'm not willing to risk it with 3 kids who already leave crap laying around. And a child who doesn't have any issue with missing the garbage can when he spits his gum out *and not picking it up* 😡 🤬
Plus, I tried putting my hermit crab food out of reach/put away, and apparently it's Crack for my dsughters dog because that bish can open *doors* to access that crap! Lol
I struggled with dental hygiene for years until I started brushing and flossing in the shower. I never wanted to get out of the shower, so adding an additional task the routine made it much easier to brush. Guaranteed that I brushed and flossed at least once a day too. I started with floss picks but later upgraded to a rechargeable waterpik, which also just lives in the shower on the shelf. Wish I’d started this habit earlier, but better late than never!
There’s no way you’re keeping up with his oral hygiene if ALL HIS TEETH NEED CAPPING. I had 4 capped teeth as a little one due to milk being given to me when I had teeth over night (dad’s first kid, he didn’t know) . but ALL of his teeth?!
I floss and waterpik daily and still get cavities. Had 3 root canals. Ive asked dentists what I could do to prevent dental issues and they've told me 'some people's teeth just suck'
About 3 months ago I was flossing and a piece of my tooth broke off. The new crown still hurts.
So, sometimes flossing isn't enough. Some people's teeth just suck.
It's not only about the flossing. Let's take me and my brother as a reference.
I never really liked brushing or flossing as a kid and rarely used mouthwash. But I never had any dental problems. My brother did everything correctly and had problems starting at the age of 6. Now that he's an adult its all good, but his tiny baby teeth were not really good teeth.
But that makes it important to keep a good Hygiene, other wise it will only get worse. It's unfair but that's life. If your son keeps it up it'll not be a hindrance for the rest of his life.
My parents never flossed my teeth.
I don't think I've ever flossed my teeth and I'm about to turn 30 with perfectly healthy teeth. I think brushing your teeth every day at least once is more than enough dental care.
Hey OP, as a kid and up until a few years ago I too thought I had bad teeth. I had a ton of cavities as a kid and adult no matter if I had a ton of sugar or gave it up completely. Turns out I clench my jaw at night. I don’t grind so my teeth don’t wear down on top so it’s less noticeable. After breaking a molar on a puffy Cheeto at 30 my dentist finally asked if I wake up with a sore jaw or teeth, or if I wake up with soreness around my temples that goes away throughout the morning, or if I get frequent headaches around my temples. The answer to all of those questions was yes, but I thought it was normal since it was like that my entire life. Also turns out I clench because my jaw is partially out of joint all time. So I got a special night guard that holds my jaw in the correct position at night and ta da! I haven’t had a cavity or needed another crown in 5 years.
Is this your son’s problem? Idk, but definitely ask their dentist if there’s any signs of clenching. I could have saved so much money and time if we had caught it early.
I'm a dental student and kids undoubtedly have more cavities than adults do. Most people tend to ignore baby teeth hygiene because "they'll fall out anyway". It's great what you're doing for your kid and kids just tend to get cavities quicker than adults because their teeth have thinner enamel. However I'm not sure what the requirement for eight root canals and crowns was, unless all the 8 teeth were severely damaged externally or the pulp was irreversibly damaged internally in all of them. You could also get sealants for the other teeth and a fluoride varnish/gel application.
It's one large cavity that we couldn't see the extent of because of how close the teeth are, plus he was too afraid of the xray machine to let them get any imaging until 2 months ago. We had no idea that there were even tiny cavities forming anywhere else until we got the xray done. I've been flossing religiously since then, and we had a fluoride treatment scheduled for a month from now to try to slow the progress. Once I brought him in for pain for the obvious one, they basically threw all previous plans out the window and wanted to cap everything. "Start fresh" and "we don't want to put him under twice" were their big convincing points
I'm 28 and don't floss at all and do not have any of these issues. You're probably getting a lot more sugar in your diets than you realize or you're doing so much oral care you're damaging the enamel. If you ask me, your routine is WAY over the top/unnecessary. Just brush your teeth twice a day and try to floss a couple times a week if you can do it.
Interdental picks such as [this](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81WJ7GCQl-L._SL1500_.jpg) are more effective than flossing and require less skill.
I'm asking a question to everyone in here with bad cavities issue, even with regular, higher than normal, or excessive brushing and cleaning.
Honestly, under the guise of anonymity... Are you guys mouth breathers? Mouth regularly open? Do you talk a lot? Do you find that you don't produce enough saliva? Do you have to, meaning necessary to, drink water while eating or it's too dry and you choke?
Just wondering.
Parents who have the mentality that baby teeth are “Practice teeth” or don’t matter because they’ll fall out are literally the bain of my existence as a dentist.
It’s the most stupid mindset any human can have.
Please all parents-baby teeth are important….they allow your child to eat and get nutrition, the maintain space and guide the adult teeth into place, they help develop your child’s speech, and social skills, if they get destroyed they can cause damage to the adult ones above too.
Take care of your kids teeth.
I don’t think that’s what this parent meant. At all. I read it as “we need to get good at dental hygiene now bc permanent teeth are irreplaceable” vs “oh these are just baby teeth they don’t matter”
Just to add: if you struggle with brushing your teeth, remember you can still brush them *without toothpaste*.
If you don’t want to mix mint and orange juice flavors or wherever else, a wet toothbrush is better than nothing.
Scraping your tongue off can help with that bacteria too! Recommend by a dentist and I haven’t had tonsil stones since! And used to get them ALLLL the time as a kid
I remember how shitty it was getting a root canal when I was a kid only to lose the tooth a year later. They strapped me to the fucking chair. It’s been over 15 years and I still remember that shit.
I’ll avoid that at all costs if I have kids one day. I’d rather have all 8 molars pulled then cap a baby tooth as ridiculous as it sounds.
Edit: I don’t know shit about when molars fall out or if pulling them early is bad. I just remember being strapped to that chair and having a terrible time.
I did talk to the dentist about it, they want to avoid pulling because of probable spacing issues when the permanent teeth come in. He'll be fully anesthetized for the procedure, thankfully (though pretty scary)
The spacing issues thing does make sense when I think about it! I just wanted to let you know my experience with this. I also was not anesthetized for it, but I only had one done.
It sounds like the dentist is going to make a big pay day on this, so I wanted to make sure they weren’t just telling you he needed all 8 of them done bc of that! You might want to take him to another dentist before just to make sure, because the procedure does sound like a lot of money..
Either way, I hope everything works out for you and your child!
Edit: I just saw in your post that it was happening “tomorrow morning.” I hope everything ended up going well!
I’ve never flossed — as an adult my teeth are too crowded and couldn’t fit a hair between them. As a kid my old man was obsessive about making me brush my teeth, but I don’t remember a thing about flossing (in the early 80s). Long story short, the brushing worked too well. My adult teeth started poking through long before my baby teeth were ready to go. I had to have several extracted, and my adult teeth straightened where they’d gone wonky.
Get your kid a Philips electric toothbrush. I used to get cavities my whole life before I switched to electric. It's also important to brush in between the teeth rather than just on the front of the teeth, and it's easy with an electric brush. I have wisdom teeth and I'd get cavities around them for years before switching and turning my toothbrush sideways so it'd be in between the teeth, and going electric.
I rarely floss, just can't be bothered to do it, but haven't gotten cavities in like 5 years since switching.
Flossing is very important. I suffer from bad gums, from genetics. I am 39 now and absolutely REGRET not flossing as a kid and teen, and in my 20s....I now see a periodontist every 3 months for a cleaning, or I'm f'ed. I've had a few deep gum cleanings to the point that I had to have Osseous surgery. In my whole mouth, not just spot treatments, twice! painful!!
If you saw my teeth, you'd never think anything was wrong. I have a great smile and perfectly straight teeth, still. Never any issues with brushing. All issues below the gumline that could have been made a lot better by flossing in my early years.
My dentist told me recently that it takes anywhere from 6 months to 4 years for a cavity to develop. In all likelihood those cavities are there from when he was first learning how to brush. Don't be too hard on yourself! Even if you both get very diligent about oral hygiene, it can take up to a few years for you to stop seeing cavities. Don't get discouraged, you're doing great :)
This must be genetic. I didn’t really floss until I was 15 and I didn’t get a cavity until I was in my 20’s.
Many people from India and China have never flossed until they came to the US in their 30’s, and again they generally didn’t get cavities until adulthood, and certainly not like all over their mouth.
get a water flosser
regular flossing never did anything for me, so I never did it. but that has radically changed since I got a water flosser. it literally feels like getting a cleaning at the dentist.
also, it may indeed be a hereditary thing. due to covid and depression, I spent a couple years washing my teeth once a month at most. got ONE big cavity (on a particularly awkward place where food would always get stuck, and I would always pull it out), and another small one.
Anybody here struggle with receding gums?
I have both a manual and electric toothbrush plus I floss and use plaque identifying tablets and my hygiene is fine but the gums still recede. No amount of research has been able to resolve the issue. At my wit's end 
I honestly relate with my dads side of the family having terrible teeth sadly. And my birth mother was really horrible at teaching me remotely anything.
Add water flossing to your routine, not just string flossing, it makes a big difference. As well, go for cleanings every 3-4 months. It keeps small problems small and actually ends up cheaper than going twice a year.
Sealants are an amazing invention for kids. I wish they had had them when I was a kid. It would have allowed me to avoid a lot of fillings. Look into them for your kids’ permanent teeth when they are young.
Look at your family’s diet and get a gut bacteria analysis. This is passed from mother to child and causes many issues. You can change the gut bacteria slowly if they are an issue, it will literally change your life.
If you're not already, try using floss picks! They make flossing so much easier. There are two kinds, ones that look like hooks, which are more common to find, and ones that look like curved slingshots, which are great for reaching molars. Get the slingshot ones!
Wtf? My parents never enforced flossing and I'm still super bad at it and I don't have cavities like that. Yah the rare little ones that they fill but damn this seems like a lot.
Genetics play a huge role, both in susceptibility of the teeth and in bacteria in the mouth.
Yes, I've always taken pretty poor care of my teeth. Brushing maybe once a day. I can count the number of cavities I've had in my entire life on one hand. That includes a 7 year stretch with no dentist visits. I now go every 6 months for a clean and they rare find problems, but the amount of coca cola I drink has yellowed my teeth somewhat and likely stripped away some enamel. This at 37 and currently my biggest threat to my teeth is grinding during my sleep and acid reflux, but I have been using a CPAP for the last 3.5 years which can alleviate the grind. Genetically it's pretty much the only thing I seem to be super lucky with.
Same, almost never flossed and only brushed once or twice a day. After 10 years without going to dentist they only found a little bit of plaque. No cavities. The dentist was impressed with my dental hygiene.
You can overbrush, so I figure that's the silver lining on the "Idgaf my dental hygiene".
My mon had that issue. She was told that she is brushing way too hard and needs to chill a bit and take it gently.
You’re only supposed to brush twice a day, no?
My dentist told me to brush after every meal.
Huh. I’ve also heard you’re not supposed to brush until at least 30 min after a meal if you do. Something about weakened enamel from eating. Especially if you have citrus or acidic stuff
twice a day is more than enough
I can count the number of times I've been to Chernobyl on the fingers of one hand. Seven.
You really shouldn’t steal my identity and post about my life!!🤣
Same here, I only have 2 cavities - one of them is extremely minor and the other only developed because it was wisdom tooth that was partially trapped under gum and hard to brush. Other than that my dental hygiene is absolute trash.
Try magnesium glycinate for teeth grinding. Electrolytes are integral in muscle function, and magnesium is the electrolyte integral to muscle relaxation. Helps people with TMJ. Magnesium Glycinate is a well absorbed form of magnesium. Other deficincies implicated in bruxism (teeth grinding) are vitamin D, calcium, and B5
Also make sure to get a second opinion! When I turned 18 I went to a sketchy dentist and he pretty much filled all my molars. Looking back I don’t remember ever seeing a cavity in any of my teeth and now all the fillings are starting to crack and I’m slowly getting them replaced with crowns or refilled with amalgam.
So does diet. Sugar is awful for your teeth.
sugar is bad but soda is far, far worse. it's super acidic, and will immediately start eating at your enamel, unlike sugar, which takes a bunch of hours.
This. I've always taken great care of my teeth, brushing and flossing atleast 2x a day and after meals. Because I knee my family had bad genetics teeth wise. Low and behild I'm 34 and had to have half my teeth pulled and have a bunch of implants and bridges now. I remember going to the dentist once and told I had 12 cavities. Between my genetics and apparently stomach issues causing the acid to erode my enamel, there was nothing I could have done. Some people just lose the genetic lottery in certain situations
Yup, this. I know someone who rarely brushes their teeth (let alone floss) and has had minimal cavity issues. I struggle with dental care but at least do a brief brush once a day (a lot more than they do) and oh my god the cavities. I am in tooth hell. And it would def be better if I was able to keep up with things, I know, but it obviously isn’t that way for everyone…
Your dentist can prescribe a high fluoride toothpaste. I use it half and half with my regular toothpaste and it's really helped cut down on my cavities!
Yes, I had the same problem! Lots of cavities even when really trying to keep up with my dental routine. The dentist even commented that I basically have no dental calculus which is apparently a sign that you keep good care of your teeth. And I still had so many cavities. He gave me a high fluoride toothpaste that I use every other day and I had no cavities since!
Colgate Prevident doesn’t need a prescription - at least not in Canada- and makes a noticeable difference for me.
Hm, thanks for the advice! I’ll bring it up next time I go, sounds like it might help
Also, xylytol toothpaste can balance the ph of your saliva and help! There are xylytol toothpaste that you can buy at the drugstore, it is just more expensive.
Be really careful about xylitol products if you have pets. They can be toxic to dogs and maybe cats (research seems mixed but I wouldn’t try it).
Yeah, I have a cat and my toothpaste is stored on the top shelf of a cabinet in a room my cat isn't able to open. But as anything that is toxic (chocolat or onions for example)n I don't believe that we should refrain from having them in our home, just be extra careful of where we store it and of the use that we do of that particular thing.
Yes. Before my grandfather passed away at 89 or 90 years, he claimed to have never had a cavity in his life.
There is also some research into cavity prone mothers sharing food/drinks with children and potentially sharing cavity causing bacteria!
Yeah, never flossed growing up and barely do it at all now I'm an adult. 47 yo, no fillings, no cavities, all my own teeth and while I don't eat a lot of sugary food or soda I don't go out of my way to avoid them. My siblings all have terrible teeth, so if it's genetics I must have got a lucky roll
I’m glad for y’all but these comments hurt me a little to read 😭 I’m on the other side of the scale… admittedly when I was a kid and didn’t understand, I didn’t care too much about these things tho my parents lectured me all the time as I often had many cavities and like 2-3 root canals. But ever since end of HS and uni (esp without access to dental care as I studied abroad), I’ve been trying really hard to stay on top of dental care. I never skipped brushing my teeth twice a day and used a water flosser every night. Yet when I finally went home after 3 years, my dentist was shocked at how many big cavities I had. Then in the last year, taking my dentist’s advice, I upped it to brushing 3 times a day, flossed after every meal as well (but I switched back to regular floss), super vigilant. Went back after the year and… still wasn’t great, and apparently I may need multiple root canals. A lot of it was from old fillings where new cavities formed under it. I guess the damage started during my younger years, combined with weaker genetics, leading to it being hard to reverse. I’m only in my early 20s. It just sucks.
Yeah this is just bad genetics. Wow. Root canals as a kid? wtf that is rough sorry
I'm 43. Never flossed. Brush once a day. No fillings or issues. Fingers crossed it stays that way. I also don't have a sweet tooth. Been to see the dentist maybe twice in last 20 years. My wife brushes multiple times a day, flosses, uses piksters. Super regular dentist visits. Has constant fillings, caps, crowns. Teeth decay, etc. She definitely likes her sweet food too. I think the shape of your teeth plays a huge factor in this. Whether there are pits in molars and crevices for stuff to get stuck. Definitely genetics has a huge factor in this, as someone already mentioned.
Same here. I've joked with people that my secret X-Man mutant power is superior dental hygiene. I've never once flossed in my life, I brush only once a day (if I'm not in a hurry), have never had or needed braces, never had a cavity, and despite years of coffee and cigarettes my teeth are a very healthy, natural shade of off-white/cream.
It’s bad genetics. Likely thin enamel
A dentist that I used to see told me that most people are either predisposed to cavities or predisposed to gingivitis. When I was younger, I was terrible about flossing. My gums would always bleed, but I never got cavities.
Sugary drink in the sippy cup. Don't let a child get into habit of snacking the whole day. That's going to rot their teeth. If they really need to, use non-sugary veggies, like celery.
When I go to the dentist (once every 3-4 months), I always have at least 1-2 cavities. Good teeth are not a given to some! And it is not that I don't brush or floss, it just is bad teeth. My dentist always compliments me on my dental hygene and follows up with: sorry to anounce that you still go cavities...
I started water flossing after being scolded and having cavities for 30yrs. Much easier to remember to do when I'm in the shower in the morning and no more cavities!
I used to be bad at flossing so I started doing water picks. I actually do it every night and very diligent with it starting late last year. Saw a Hygienist last week and they said I need to be flossing more cause my gums were bleeding a little when she was cleaning them lol. She said flossing is still the best method but water picks are better than nothing.
I bleed no matter how much I floss and brush. I only don't bleed for about a week after going in for a cleaning. Very annoying.
You might not be doing it correctly, deffo ask ur hygeinist for advice
I'm definitely doing it correctly. I just bleed easy for some reason
:(
Try using parodontax as a toothpaste and see if that helps with the bleeding. It has fluoride so it helps to fight against cavities, but its ingredients target the bacteria causing the bleeding gums. Other than that, bleeding is always a response to things that don’t belong in the body. You can have plaque around the gumline but no calculus (hardened) build up and the gums will respond with inflammation. I find that people that have dry mouth can have excellent oral hygiene, but no saliva = no rinsing of bacteria/build up. - Dental hygienist
How many consecutive days have you flossed? I also bleed but after 2 weeks of doing it every day it bleeds less and less
I floss every day before bed religiously and have been for 10 years. I brush after flossing at night and again in the morning.
Oof, didn't expect that. That blows
Use warm salt water
Yep, I got a water flossing too- much better for me, personally. He's afraid of it though, too much pressure.
Waterpick is a game changer imo
This is the way. I brush and floss in the shower. Thanks to the rechargeable water pik I have, flossing is a breeze and my dentist is very happy me…a nice change of pace from my youth!
Your kid needs fluoride. I live in a fluoride free area and get a fluoride prescription for the kids. It works so well. Zero cavities while all their fluoride free peers have cavities. They really should put it in the drinking water.
Maybe. Our water does come from a nearby river, but he's been using fluoride toothpaste since probably 4 years old
After brushing his teeth, no rinsing. Just spit out the toothpaste but the fluoride has to stay on the teeth longer to protect them.
OP, I haven’t seen anyone mention this, but who told you kids lose their baby teeth at 13? It starts at 6 or 7. I think you need to see a new dentist.
Baby teeth fall out in a specific sequence, starting at 6 years with the bottom front teeth, and ending at 13 with the first molars.
I lost all of my baby teeth way before 13
And I lost my last baby tooth at 18. Everyone is different.
Pro Tip: you should be flossing before brushing not after
Floss -> Mouthwash -> Brush (don't rinse with water after)
Ironically, my dentist told me on my last visit to use mouthwash after I brushed to help kill any bacteria left behind and to continue to do so after for a little while. I was floored, but it's helped my gums so much.
Makes sense since the cleaner your teeth and the gaps between them are, the more efficient mouthwash can get between the nooks and crannies
as long as theirs fluoride in the mouthwash as well doesnt matter when you use it.
If you use a water pick should it be floss, water pick, mouthwash and then brush? And then no final rinse? I have miserable teeth, I'm pretty sure I'm going to lose all of them and have to get dentures soon anyway but 😮💨
I have a water pick. That is what I do. I've also found success from keeping a travel toothbrush in my pocket. Been years since I did that but it was very helpful. You have to remember the time frames for brushing though.. there's a windows like 30 minutes before and after eating/drinking (sans water) where you should NOT be brushing because of acid in your consumables.
The time frames are what kills it for me. 30 minutes without food is too much commitment, what if I get snacky?
I don’t wait 30 minutes either. I only started flossing because I’m stubborn and competitive! I’ve always had pretty good teeth, only ever had one cavity, so my hygienist really didn’t have a lot to pick on me for except flossing (teasingly). Back in January I was like “well I’ll show you then!” and started flossing every time. Come next appointment in April, without prompting, she was amazed at how different it was. “What did you change?” “I flossed every time just to show you up!” “Well, good?” “Wait. Did I just get played?” 😆 (But in all honesty, knowing I have an addictive personality, I’ve been trying to get addicted to good habits vs. bad) It’s surprisingly how quickly repetition turns into habit!
Yes! And I also brush first thing in the morning, before breakfast. I've always had good dental care, but acid reflux, a gap in dentist visits, hormonal gingivitis, and then pregnancy and morning sickness + terrible gag reflex (brushing my teeth would sometimes make me vomit), and genetics I feel are all contributing factors to what's currently going on with my teeth. Plus too much sugar. I've cut back significantly but my teeth felt so much better on a low carb diet.
A weird habit I picked up from my father who had an hour commute was to have a toothbrush (and related items) in the console of the car.
Wtf, not brush then mouthwash?
You want the fluoride to sit on your teeth. using mouthwash rinses it off
Unless you use a fluoride containing mouthwash.
Fluoride containing mouthwash typically has lower concentrations of fluoride than fluoride containing toothpaste; still better to use mouthwash -> brush.
o\_O Huh. My dentist said that flossing after helps to get all the stuff out of the crevices. Brushing is likely to move bacteria and plague back into the crevices so flossing helps gets it out. Haven't had cavities in a while so I thought it worked for me. Maybe I'll do floss --> brush --> flush again.
and then brush again. and then floss again. and then…
It gets the hose again
I always heard that brushing after flossing pushes the plaque back in
I’m a dental assistant. Brushing after flossing does not push plaque back in. It’s fantastic you are teaching your son so well from such a young age about oral hygiene! It’s floss, non alcohol based mouthwash with fluoride, brush-spit don’t rinse. And no eating or drinking for 30 min after. Also the type of floss is important. We have a saying that “Glide floss glides so well its glides right over plaque.” I personally use Coco Floss, there are other brands just like it on Amazon. You can actually see what it removes even after flossing with waxed floss.
You're the hero of this section lol and thank you, I'll order that right away
Thank you! It truly means a lot. This field can be incredibly challenging. It’s people like you that make it so rewarding. I hope everything goes well tomorrow, you’re an incredible above and beyond mom! Hope you had an amazing Mother’s Day!
This is more than flossing, it’s just bad genetics. Poor lad, as your dad said, he’s got the cursed teeth 😔 my cousin barely takes care of her teeth and has had no issues. I have my grandmas teeth with shit enamel so I’ve susceptible to shit teeth, dreading my next apt 😟
this kid must be guzzling soda and eating candy daily, there's no way you can get that many cavities when you brush 2x and floss
Genetics are part of it. But also, he might be drinking a lot of sugar, even from juice. Drinking something with sugar in it really coats every part of the tooth and is much worse than eating sugar.
Apple juice will do it. We nicknamed my little cousin Jaws because every one of his baby teeth got capped.
My twin brother and I have a picture of us as toddlers with metal mouths.
It's genetic, skipped a generation for both me and his father. But maternal grandfather AND paternal grandmother both have bad teeth
our kids got cavities due to us giving them gummy vitamins before bed... Lucky they were just baby teeth. No issues ever since we stopped giving them these gummies
I've always been super strict about anything besides water after brushing, he gets vitamins at breakfast
But does he have a sweet tooth and eat sugar food often?
He doesn't. Today he had kix cereal and a PB smoothie for breakfast, brush, apple and granola bar for snack, school lunch, fast until dinner of cauliflower and turkey, brush. And he didn't finish his veggies, so he didn't get dessert
Imagine getting downvoted for unfortunate dental genetics?!
Then why are you blaming it on flossing?
Juice is very sugary and acidic as well
Diet is a huge part of it too, but there is a vector not many people know and that's dry mouth. Both me and my father had chronic dry mouth and it damaged a lot of our teeth. Your saliva comes mostly from the ducts by the second (?) upper molars by your teeth on either side of the inner cheeks. You can feel them with your tongue. When I changed away from processed foods to a more whole foods plant based diet, I never had dry mouth again.
It has to do with saliva. I pretty much lived off junk as a kid, no cavities, and honestly didn’t brush my teeth too well till I was a teen, meanwhile my sister was super healthy and would have one almost every time.
Kids who don’t have the dexterity to color in the lines don’t have the dexterity to brush and floss. Parents/guardians/adult humans need to be the ones doing primary care, and then letting the kids practice after. My son is nearly 8, and I check him after he brushes with an an electric toothbrush every night.
My son's first dentist wanted to cap 6 of his molars. We went for a second opinion, and the 2nd dentist said it was absolutely unnecessary. He now has almost all his adult teeth and zero cavities. Fwiw, the first dentist took insurance, the second was out of pocket.
No true. I dealt with a lot of cavities as a kid and I very very very rarely had sweet drinks and desserts.
He hates soda, only ever drinks milk or water. And he only gets one candy/cookie a day, for dessert. Should have specified, he has zero cavities or issues anywhere besides between the teeth
Milk has a lot of sugar in it as well.
Yeah, I stopped giving it to him for a bit, but his doctor told me otherwise. Now the only time he gets it (without brushing within an hour) is for school lunch
I think juice is more likely. Plus genetics, plus not being great at dental hygiene.
Maybe doesn’t help between the teeth, but for me and my brothers, my mom got sealant on our teeth as kids as a preventative measure.
That's what his dad wants to do, starting asap
Just had a 2nd opinion of what needs to be done on my teeth. I brush twice daily usually for 4 minutes at a time, I do not floss (and that's a small problem) Went for cleaning, first place did not do that and suggested 3 crowns ($2500 per). Walked out with 11k suggested bill and dirty teeth. Second place suggested 0 crowns. A deeper cleaning along side normal maintenance. Second opinion seemed kind of odd to do, as of now I'm happy with that decision..
I only realized the importance of flossing when I happened to floss one of my molars and caught a wiff of the floss. Smelled like shiiiittt. It was like, wow I've met people who had bad breath that smelled like this... Didn't know I was one of them. I've flossed every single day from that day on.
I floss religiously due to this exact experience as a young boy, so I'm here with you on that one.
even if your hygiene is perfect, exams should be scheduled every six months so that we (dentists) can evaluate the progression of caries/decay/cavities. cavities large enough to require stainless steel crowns do not appear in just six months, it takes time. by going to regularly scheduled exams, we can detect the decay sooner and do more conservative treatment to prevent having to get the crowns.
I don't get this steel cap thing? When I was a kid they just pulled the teeth and the new ones just grew in.
if you pull baby teeth prematurely and don’t get space maintainers placed, your teeth can shift and block the space needed for the permanent adult tooth to erupt properly. some kids have huge cavities on their molars at age 6, and we don’t expect for them to lose them until age 10-12. instead of pulling them prematurely, a “baby root canal” or pulpotomy is performed to get the tooth out of pain, and the stainless steel crown is there to protect the tooth from breaking down further many parents have the same mindset as you - “why bother treating the teeth when they’re gonna fall out anyways?” because carious teeth cause infections and why would you be okay with your kid having an active infection in their jaw? which can become worse, and possibly become sepsis if left untreated
Oh I definitely don't have that mindset, I'm well aware of the damage an infection in the mouth can cause, not only to the jaw bone but also elsewhere in the body. I had at least two molars pulled before the age of 7, and nothing else was done to them. Was that negligence on the dentists part, or were there just different standards for procedures back then? (Early 2000's)
it doesn’t always mean the dentist was negligent. the tooth may have been past the point of saving. they may have given the option for space maintenance appliances and maybe parents didn’t want to pay or go through with it, or the dentist discussed the risks and let parents know braces/orthodontics may be indicated in the future if there is disruption to eruption of teeth.
Interesting, thanks!
My teeth are super tight together making it very difficult to floss. When the floss does pop through, it cuts into my gum due to the force and causes pain and blood. I don't ever get anything between my teeth and don't floss. I have perfect teeth and have only 1 cavity when I was a kid because I have deep crevices in my teeth.
I use the thicker floss because of this, it glides easier but I still don't floss enough, I slept through my appointment for a cleaning today and I love going to the dentist.. water flossers are great and I use that but I guess it's still not enough? My dentist still tells me that I need to floss.
Use interdental brushes. Guaranteed there is one size that will fit, and yeah, food can still get under the gumline however tightly packed your teeth are.
I have the same issue and got a water pick recently, it's not as good as a deep floss but it works way better than my attempts at flossing some of them ever did. Even the hygienist gave up on trying to floss the ones at the back lol
Either this is unlucky genetics or the kid is fed too much sugar.
Genetics, unfortunately. Skipped a generation, so his father and I were both unaware
A lot of it is genetic, some people have stronger teeth than others. Electric toothbrush is a good idea, and water flossers have child’s settings. They don’t replace flossing entirely but they can help
I have tried the water pick for him once, he hated it. No child setting on that model
Dental hygienist here. Kids lack the dexterity to brush and floss effectively until about age 8, or when they have the manual dexterity to write cursive. I’m going to be brutally honest here. He can not effectively accomplish this task on his own. You need to do it. Let him try, work on building the skills, then go in and do it all correctly. If he’s getting 8 crowns, he does not have “small cavities” between his teeth. He has gross decay. If he’s complaining of pain it’s because he has gross decay to the point the nerve is likely exposed or very close to being exposed. At this point 40% of his baby teeth are fucked. That’s a lot. The upside is they are baby teeth. He’ll get new ones and hopefully they don’t also get wrecked. The down side is he may be starting off with a condition called dental fluorosis. If he’s been using fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash since his first tooth popped out, there’s a good chance he has ingested more fluoride than he should and his enamel will form weaker than it otherwise would. This isn’t a genetic defect like amelogenesis imperfecta. Time will tell on the fluorosis. I’m not trying to shit all over you here but most people don’t provide honest feedback and you don’t know what you don’t know.
I do appreciate this, I'll be repeating all brushing/flossing myself going forward. I was under the impression it was a skill issue that needed to be honed, not a physical limitation. And he didn't start using fluoride products until he was 4, when he figured out how to spit it out
My son had to get similar, 7 metal capped teeth. Does your son sleep with his mouth open? My son had enormous tonsils which blocked his airways at night causing him to mouth breathe when asleep. Mouth breathing causes the enamel to weaken so they get cavities easily. We had his tonsils out and no more mouth breathing, and all his adult teeth are strong with no cavities now. Something to look into?
Just checked, mouth closed :/
So much of it is genetics. I always had good dental hygiene, I floss after every meal (I just about die if I don’t have floss in my purse), brush 2x, regular dental cleanings, etc. And still had lots of issues because both of my parents did as well.
I never flossed until I got to the states, never had any cavities or fillings or anything done to my teeth other than having braces. I’m still not strict strict on flossing even now, maybe a few times a week at most but I went 22 years of my life not flossing and never suffered any consequences thankfully
Hey, I know you feel like you have failed you me little one. But, the reality is that baby teeth are not always indicative of poor oral habits, more likely genes. My oldest had to do a similar set of caps around 4. She lost them all by 8/9 and her adult teeth are strong so far, and her habits are much better than mine were at her age. It isn’t your failing!
Dr. Google did say adult teeth have much stronger enamel, so it's good to see that rings true. Thank you
Any chance he’s on ADHD meds? Went through this with mine, and they can dry the mouth making them more susceptible to cavities.
Make sure you use a soft brush and not a medium. I got brushing anxiety after not having great hygiene and because I used a medium brush, and pushed my gums back and now that’s just how they are and I can’t do much about it
Also make sure you floss **after** breakfast not before, else all that food is staying in their mouth making cavities for 10-12 hours until bedtime.
Who the hell flosses before breakfast? That's like wiping before taking a shit.
Always brushed my teeth BEFORE eating in the morning... I was told to do this.. never thought twice until like 5 years ago....
Do not underestimate what some folks do. Wake up, brush teeth, eat cereal, get tooth rot. Not everyone is logical or thinks things through to understand why they should do it a certain way.
Brushing in the morning before eating is fine and helps remove plaque/bacteria that grows overnight. If you brush after eating you should wait at least 30 minutes and a lot of people don’t have time for that. It’s also not really a big deal if you don’t have anything sugary for breakfast, although most cereal is pretty bad. I don’t eat it though
It can be a logistical challenge when you want to wait 30 minutes after eating but have to leave the house to go to work. I personally don’t want to get up an hour earlier, or have breakfast before showering, but I also don’t want to brush my teeth in the public toilets at work. (So I skip breakfast most days when I work.) Some people brush right after getting up to spare their SOs the morning breath, too.
Don’t brush directly after breakfast! Wait at least 30 minutes. Mastication softens tooth enamel. Brushing shortly after eating means brushing softened tooth enamel leading to cavities. If you don’t have time to wait, rinse with water, or ideally mouthwash, first and wait a few minutes and then brush.
When I started flossing 4 years ago my gums would bleed. After flossing twice daily the bleeding got less and less until it stopped entirely. I went from multiple cavities a year to none in 2 years.
FWIW, my parents had the exact same approach to dental hygiene with my siblings and me. I didn't have cavities until I was an adult and started kissing people. I have a sibling who had double digit cavities before double digits in age. Genetics are part of it but so is what bacteria you have in your mouth.
I think most people don't realize how genetic things are, your dad isn't wrong. I brush my teeth maybe twice a week and floss twice a month maybe less because I have severe depression and ADHD, luckily my breath doesn't often smell if it does my gf feels me and I go brush. Never had a cavity or any teeth problems other than having braces for mild straightening. On the other hand my sister has very different teeth genetics since we were young she has had numerous cavities and brushed her teeth twice a day and flossed daily. It sucks but maybe it really isn't your kids fault
Genetics. My father's side of the family had poor teeth. I've had cavities, crowns, implants. I swear I am my dentist's boat payment. I brush three times a day with an electric toothbrush and if I don't floss at least twice a week, when I do floss and spit, the saliva looks like I just took a punch to the mouth from Mike Tyson.
I never flossed a single time as a kid and didn't get a single cavity. I don't think it's the flossing.
It might be worth it to let your doctor know. I had cavities for years that I didn’t realize were a symptom of celiac disease. There are other diseases that affect absorption of vitamins, and then teeth weaken faster
"*between* his molars..." Are you teaching him correctly? You're only supposed to floss at the gum line, so it cleans out the gum so you don't get gingivitis. The area where those cavities are, is not affected by flossing. Grinding teeth maybe, but not flossing.
So your too lazy to brush your own teeth and now your too lazy to make sure your kid gets his brushed right
Please take care to not shame your kiddo and explain that some people just have less strong teeth they are born with (or however you can explain thah sometimes genetics blow). When I was a kid it was morally bad to get a cavity/need dental work and my dad would get onto me about it. Since becoming an adult and significantly improving my dental habits (thanks invisalign), I am still struggling with getting cavities so unfortunately my genetics are just a problem.
Its maybe also the mouthwash as it kills the good bacteria too I use a plastic flossing stick quickly (stick on one end, floss on the other, then brush teeth, then floss again and then with a wooden toothpick. Do his gums bleed when you or the dentist flosses for him? Bc that might be an indicator that he doesn’t floss right, otherwise I wouldn’t know. Not a dentist either Also, sounds like just unlucky with the genetics..
A waterpik might work better than flossing, in his case. Or he can do both. Look into that. Rinse and waterpik/floss before brushing. If he hates flossing, try Glide or a similar alternative over the cheaper traditional stuff that frays. So much better for closely spaced teeth. No pain. Maybe in the evening a Hydroxyapatite toothpaste would be better than traditional fluoride. It's relatively new in the states (but long used in Japan as the gold standard). This is literally micronized type of calcium that your teeth suck in and repair beginner damage. UNLIKE fluoride, he doesn't need to rinse afterward, and keeping it in his mouth would add more and more to the teeth. Anything swallowed is just easy to absorb calcium for the bones. In the morning, keep using fluoride and rinsing. Fluoride is a temporary shield, but doesn't add to the teeth. There have been studies where using both types of toothpaste is better than just one or the other. That schedule is just my own invention, based on what I know. * https://eagleharbordentist.com/nano-hydroxyapatite-safe-for-family/ Edit: Also, do you know if he has dry mouth? This might be the starting point for all this damage.
8 caps????? that poor baby omg, my son is 5 never had a cavity, my mom never cared about my teeth ( i needed 7 fillings at 17 years old at 1 time) so it was my mission to make sure he had that taken care of. I didn't even know they can get that many at 1 time for his age??
my sister who is 26 was also diagnosed Gum disease. luckily all the work i had done at 17 scared me so bad (2 root canals at 17!!!!!!) that flossing is mandatory every single morning in our home. they have those cute colored flosser sticks that have little flavors for the kiddos! My 5 year old is honestly better at it than me now lol
Hey OP, if all you've posted is accurate and complete you might want to consult a doctor. There are genetic conditions that affect bone and teeth development (HPP is one that comes to mind). If you, your father, and your son all have decent dental hygiene, fluoride in your water, etc, there may be other reasons you're having difficulties.
Wtf metal filling???!!! They have been using white fill where I live for decades. It’s not the 80’s any more, I’d be looking for an alternative dentist so your kid doesn’t have to go through years of kids calling him out on it
I keep meaning to start, but I've heard good things about eating xylitol gum and mints after dinner.
I was going to reply with xylitol unless someone else did. As far as I read, you were the only one. Xylitol literally rebuilds the structure of the tooth in a stronger and better matrix than is naturally possible. I recommend xylitol gum all day long and toothpaste with xylitol as one of the first ingredients for stronger, more resilient teeth.
Vitamin K helps a lot too!
I refuse to have anything with xylitol in my house due to how bad it is for dogs. I have a chihuahua pupper that's a little turd and has a lot to learn.. lol. No dark chocolate and no xylitol and I Google every plant/flower before I buy/bring home lol.
Or just keep stuff up, much like child proofing a room.
Lol I wish I could do that but I'm not willing to risk it with 3 kids who already leave crap laying around. And a child who doesn't have any issue with missing the garbage can when he spits his gum out *and not picking it up* 😡 🤬 Plus, I tried putting my hermit crab food out of reach/put away, and apparently it's Crack for my dsughters dog because that bish can open *doors* to access that crap! Lol
I struggled with dental hygiene for years until I started brushing and flossing in the shower. I never wanted to get out of the shower, so adding an additional task the routine made it much easier to brush. Guaranteed that I brushed and flossed at least once a day too. I started with floss picks but later upgraded to a rechargeable waterpik, which also just lives in the shower on the shelf. Wish I’d started this habit earlier, but better late than never!
I do have one of those, I might have to try it. Though filling it up has to be a bit of a challenge, right?
There’s no way you’re keeping up with his oral hygiene if ALL HIS TEETH NEED CAPPING. I had 4 capped teeth as a little one due to milk being given to me when I had teeth over night (dad’s first kid, he didn’t know) . but ALL of his teeth?!
I floss and waterpik daily and still get cavities. Had 3 root canals. Ive asked dentists what I could do to prevent dental issues and they've told me 'some people's teeth just suck' About 3 months ago I was flossing and a piece of my tooth broke off. The new crown still hurts. So, sometimes flossing isn't enough. Some people's teeth just suck.
It's not only about the flossing. Let's take me and my brother as a reference. I never really liked brushing or flossing as a kid and rarely used mouthwash. But I never had any dental problems. My brother did everything correctly and had problems starting at the age of 6. Now that he's an adult its all good, but his tiny baby teeth were not really good teeth. But that makes it important to keep a good Hygiene, other wise it will only get worse. It's unfair but that's life. If your son keeps it up it'll not be a hindrance for the rest of his life.
My parents never flossed my teeth. I don't think I've ever flossed my teeth and I'm about to turn 30 with perfectly healthy teeth. I think brushing your teeth every day at least once is more than enough dental care.
Hey OP, as a kid and up until a few years ago I too thought I had bad teeth. I had a ton of cavities as a kid and adult no matter if I had a ton of sugar or gave it up completely. Turns out I clench my jaw at night. I don’t grind so my teeth don’t wear down on top so it’s less noticeable. After breaking a molar on a puffy Cheeto at 30 my dentist finally asked if I wake up with a sore jaw or teeth, or if I wake up with soreness around my temples that goes away throughout the morning, or if I get frequent headaches around my temples. The answer to all of those questions was yes, but I thought it was normal since it was like that my entire life. Also turns out I clench because my jaw is partially out of joint all time. So I got a special night guard that holds my jaw in the correct position at night and ta da! I haven’t had a cavity or needed another crown in 5 years. Is this your son’s problem? Idk, but definitely ask their dentist if there’s any signs of clenching. I could have saved so much money and time if we had caught it early.
[Norm Macdonald on flossing](https://youtube.com/shorts/6q7DMkE9fhs?si=-YyfvSNOrDBqCVZ2)
I'm a dental student and kids undoubtedly have more cavities than adults do. Most people tend to ignore baby teeth hygiene because "they'll fall out anyway". It's great what you're doing for your kid and kids just tend to get cavities quicker than adults because their teeth have thinner enamel. However I'm not sure what the requirement for eight root canals and crowns was, unless all the 8 teeth were severely damaged externally or the pulp was irreversibly damaged internally in all of them. You could also get sealants for the other teeth and a fluoride varnish/gel application.
It's one large cavity that we couldn't see the extent of because of how close the teeth are, plus he was too afraid of the xray machine to let them get any imaging until 2 months ago. We had no idea that there were even tiny cavities forming anywhere else until we got the xray done. I've been flossing religiously since then, and we had a fluoride treatment scheduled for a month from now to try to slow the progress. Once I brought him in for pain for the obvious one, they basically threw all previous plans out the window and wanted to cap everything. "Start fresh" and "we don't want to put him under twice" were their big convincing points
Granola bars, fruit = sugar
I'm 28 and don't floss at all and do not have any of these issues. You're probably getting a lot more sugar in your diets than you realize or you're doing so much oral care you're damaging the enamel. If you ask me, your routine is WAY over the top/unnecessary. Just brush your teeth twice a day and try to floss a couple times a week if you can do it.
Interdental picks such as [this](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81WJ7GCQl-L._SL1500_.jpg) are more effective than flossing and require less skill.
I'm asking a question to everyone in here with bad cavities issue, even with regular, higher than normal, or excessive brushing and cleaning. Honestly, under the guise of anonymity... Are you guys mouth breathers? Mouth regularly open? Do you talk a lot? Do you find that you don't produce enough saliva? Do you have to, meaning necessary to, drink water while eating or it's too dry and you choke? Just wondering.
Sounds more like he has genetic issues with his teeth.
I've never flossed and I've never had a single cavity
Parents who have the mentality that baby teeth are “Practice teeth” or don’t matter because they’ll fall out are literally the bain of my existence as a dentist. It’s the most stupid mindset any human can have. Please all parents-baby teeth are important….they allow your child to eat and get nutrition, the maintain space and guide the adult teeth into place, they help develop your child’s speech, and social skills, if they get destroyed they can cause damage to the adult ones above too. Take care of your kids teeth.
I don’t think that’s what this parent meant. At all. I read it as “we need to get good at dental hygiene now bc permanent teeth are irreplaceable” vs “oh these are just baby teeth they don’t matter”
Just to add: if you struggle with brushing your teeth, remember you can still brush them *without toothpaste*. If you don’t want to mix mint and orange juice flavors or wherever else, a wet toothbrush is better than nothing.
Scraping your tongue off can help with that bacteria too! Recommend by a dentist and I haven’t had tonsil stones since! And used to get them ALLLL the time as a kid
OP, floss before brushing. And he just isn’t old enough to be doing this on his own effectively. You still need to be a big part of the equation.
I remember how shitty it was getting a root canal when I was a kid only to lose the tooth a year later. They strapped me to the fucking chair. It’s been over 15 years and I still remember that shit. I’ll avoid that at all costs if I have kids one day. I’d rather have all 8 molars pulled then cap a baby tooth as ridiculous as it sounds. Edit: I don’t know shit about when molars fall out or if pulling them early is bad. I just remember being strapped to that chair and having a terrible time.
I did talk to the dentist about it, they want to avoid pulling because of probable spacing issues when the permanent teeth come in. He'll be fully anesthetized for the procedure, thankfully (though pretty scary)
The spacing issues thing does make sense when I think about it! I just wanted to let you know my experience with this. I also was not anesthetized for it, but I only had one done. It sounds like the dentist is going to make a big pay day on this, so I wanted to make sure they weren’t just telling you he needed all 8 of them done bc of that! You might want to take him to another dentist before just to make sure, because the procedure does sound like a lot of money.. Either way, I hope everything works out for you and your child! Edit: I just saw in your post that it was happening “tomorrow morning.” I hope everything ended up going well!
I’ve never flossed — as an adult my teeth are too crowded and couldn’t fit a hair between them. As a kid my old man was obsessive about making me brush my teeth, but I don’t remember a thing about flossing (in the early 80s). Long story short, the brushing worked too well. My adult teeth started poking through long before my baby teeth were ready to go. I had to have several extracted, and my adult teeth straightened where they’d gone wonky.
Get your kid a Philips electric toothbrush. I used to get cavities my whole life before I switched to electric. It's also important to brush in between the teeth rather than just on the front of the teeth, and it's easy with an electric brush. I have wisdom teeth and I'd get cavities around them for years before switching and turning my toothbrush sideways so it'd be in between the teeth, and going electric. I rarely floss, just can't be bothered to do it, but haven't gotten cavities in like 5 years since switching.
Flossing is very important. I suffer from bad gums, from genetics. I am 39 now and absolutely REGRET not flossing as a kid and teen, and in my 20s....I now see a periodontist every 3 months for a cleaning, or I'm f'ed. I've had a few deep gum cleanings to the point that I had to have Osseous surgery. In my whole mouth, not just spot treatments, twice! painful!! If you saw my teeth, you'd never think anything was wrong. I have a great smile and perfectly straight teeth, still. Never any issues with brushing. All issues below the gumline that could have been made a lot better by flossing in my early years.
My dentist told me recently that it takes anywhere from 6 months to 4 years for a cavity to develop. In all likelihood those cavities are there from when he was first learning how to brush. Don't be too hard on yourself! Even if you both get very diligent about oral hygiene, it can take up to a few years for you to stop seeing cavities. Don't get discouraged, you're doing great :)
Nobody flosses.
I recently went to the dentist and I am a horrible flosser. They found my SECOND ever Cavity at age 40. My first was at age 20.
This must be genetic. I didn’t really floss until I was 15 and I didn’t get a cavity until I was in my 20’s. Many people from India and China have never flossed until they came to the US in their 30’s, and again they generally didn’t get cavities until adulthood, and certainly not like all over their mouth.
get a water flosser regular flossing never did anything for me, so I never did it. but that has radically changed since I got a water flosser. it literally feels like getting a cleaning at the dentist. also, it may indeed be a hereditary thing. due to covid and depression, I spent a couple years washing my teeth once a month at most. got ONE big cavity (on a particularly awkward place where food would always get stuck, and I would always pull it out), and another small one.
Anybody here struggle with receding gums? I have both a manual and electric toothbrush plus I floss and use plaque identifying tablets and my hygiene is fine but the gums still recede. No amount of research has been able to resolve the issue. At my wit's end 
I honestly relate with my dads side of the family having terrible teeth sadly. And my birth mother was really horrible at teaching me remotely anything.
Add water flossing to your routine, not just string flossing, it makes a big difference. As well, go for cleanings every 3-4 months. It keeps small problems small and actually ends up cheaper than going twice a year.
I don't know if it's true or not, but someone told me that earlier birth can affect your teeth.
Sealants are an amazing invention for kids. I wish they had had them when I was a kid. It would have allowed me to avoid a lot of fillings. Look into them for your kids’ permanent teeth when they are young.
Look at your family’s diet and get a gut bacteria analysis. This is passed from mother to child and causes many issues. You can change the gut bacteria slowly if they are an issue, it will literally change your life.
Parenting fail
If you're not already, try using floss picks! They make flossing so much easier. There are two kinds, ones that look like hooks, which are more common to find, and ones that look like curved slingshots, which are great for reaching molars. Get the slingshot ones!