My beautiful daughter has already had two root canals and a crown. She is six! Amazingly, she is my best brusher, flosser and she uses Listerine. She doesn't even eat much candy. I think her enamel is just weak...but somehow this is my fault, too. At this point, I am wondering if we should even bother with dental care. Why not skip the fillings and braces and go straight to dentures?
Today the dentist scolded me and gave me a 15 minute demonstration on brushing and flossing the 80 little choppers under my care. Apparently, I should let them all lay on my bed, with their heads in my lap, as I delicately massage each tooth 5 times individually (front and back), not forgetting biting surfaces and the tongue...gag!
I should be performing this service morning and night for each child until s/he reaches the age of ten, not forgetting the importance of flossing and fluoride.
Is anyone out there really doing this? Do your kids fight you on it? Or do they take it "lying down"?
I am feeling like a rabid-anti-Dentite right now. Sorry to all you dentists and dentists' families out there. I know there is such a thing as a nice and non-judgemental dentist. I have heard of them. But, unfortunately, none seem to take my insurance.
And now that I have that all off my chest, I am going to get back to my original post idea, which was....the recipe for my English Christmas Toffee. Make a big batch for your dentist's office! They'll love ya...
Anti-Dentite ToffeeMix 1/2 cup water, 2 1/2 cups sugar, 1/2 cup light Karo syrup, one pound butter and 2 cups slivered almonds in heavy saucepan. Cook over HIGH heat, stirring constantly until mixture gets "smoky" and almonds turn dark brown color. (Hard crack candy stage) Pour into a jelly-roll pan which has been lined with foil and buttered. Spread immediately with 10 oz. chocolate chips (milk or semi-sweet) and sprinkle with 1 cup chopped walnuts. Cool and break into bite-sized pieces.
**Coming next week: The recipe for my homemade caramels...if they don't pull your fillings out, you get your money back!
16 comments:
I'm soooo sorry about your kid's teeth. I can so very well relate. I used to cry every time I went to the dentist when I was little (ok I still do!) I would always leave with 6,7,8,9 cavities. I've lost track of my root canals. I'm telling you it was bad. My parents didn't believe that I was really brushing and flossing and would make me keep track on a calendar and to get my allowance I had to show the calendar. So sad. I can't hold a grudge now that I am a mom though and understand the cost of dental work. But I can relate. Some people just have rotten teeth. Literally.
So, now I must be off to make some of that delish toffee. BUT what exactly does smoky mean? The color will be smoky or it will actually start to smoke? I know...I'm a ding a ling!
I feel ya, my anti-dentite sister. I find the problem is not my children getting cavities, but me! I brush, floss, moutwash, and flouride myself daily. The dentist told me that some people do just have weak enamel and that's that.
We got the kids sealants - have your kids had them? I think that is the only reason none of mine have had cavities (yet). I have no doubt we will be shelling out our savings for them soon.
NO ONE DOES THAT!!! Like you need to add that 15 minute fight to your bedtime routine. Please.
No one does that. Some people just have stronger teeth and others don't. It is nothing that you are doing wrong... don't worry! And find a new dentist!
Thanks for the recipe. It looks so yummy.
No one does that and neither should you. I have some of the worst teeth on the planet - my sibs and I inherited them from my Mother and all the pristine dental hygiene in the world is not helping. Instead, encourage one of your kids to become or marry a dentist - at least then they can keep their bills in check.
I can prove that it's all in the genes because my mom literally never took any of her six children to the dentist. I don't remember flossing until I was a teenager and I KNOW I didn't brush my teeth as often as I should have. My oldest sister STILL has never had one cavity. She is 40. I am the one with the most and I've had three. My first one wasn't until I was 19. The next two I got when I was pregnant (when your teeth are weak anyway). My other sister has had only one.
My husbands teeth on the other hand are HORRIBLE and his mom took him to the dentist. He had gray, silver teeth. And his teeth are still horrible and he HATES the dentist with a passion because he had such a horrible experience as a child.
Don't blame yourself. It's genes. I swear it's genes.
Oh that is funny! Dentists are overrated. ha. I haven't been for years...probably won't either! At least we have dentures as an option. Not too shabby. lol
I'd leave you a nice empathetic comment about dentists, but I'm hyperventilating right now after reading your post. Just know that I KNOW how you feel.
Oh, do I KNOW!
My son is also six and when he was 5 he had to be put to sleep to have several cavities filled, 3 caps put on and a root canal. I despise the dentist. But I do need to make appointments, so I guess thanks for the reminder.
I may have to try your toffee but I just made my caramels today. It is a 30 minute recipe---so easy and so good!
Lisa-Marie...the candy actually smokes as it is boiling, flavoring the nuts into a "burnt almond" deliciousness.
Stie...we were GOING for sealants. Jake got 'em but Emmie's teeth are already so bad she can only get one sealed!!!
Denae...this is our new dentist.
What you need to feel better is a whole label named teeth. I swear I could write a post every week about teeth and never get it all out because it NEVER ENDS. Been to the pediatric dentist four times in two weeks.
Do they really make kiddie dentures? I keep threatening them but just getting them would make my life so much easier. Imagine, just drop those suckers in a glass before bed and you are done!
When I was about six the dentist put one of those balloon kind of things in my mouth to isolate the tooth for the filling. I started crying and my mom came into the room to see what was happening. The dentist yelled at my mom to get out, and spanked me!! Of course we never went back to that dentist, but the damage was done. I hyperventilate thinking about going to the dentist. Poor Em. It's not your fault, though. No mother can keep up with all the hygiene issues of herself, let alone her kids.
I agree with everyone else. It is not your fault!! And no one does that. In fact, the only 3 and 4 year old children I know who actually floss are children of a dental student.
I am so sorry. We have the same issues here. I have never had a cavity or filling. I did have a double root canal because I got in a bike accident on my mission and went flying over the handlebars. On my way over the handlebars I knocked my two front teeth pretty hard.
My hubby on the other hand has LOUSY teeth and gums. And it looks like my children are following in his footsteps. My oldest is very OCD when it comes to flossing, brushing, and using mouthwash. And every time we go to the dentist he still has major issues.
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