Am I going to look like a bad mother to the dentist?!
Question: My 10 year old daughter is going to the dentist tomorrow and I am embarrassed because her teeth are awful.She has cavities and pretty much has had problems since she was little.I feel guilty because I was very young when I had her and I would giver her a bottle when she would sleep and she has been having problems since because of it(tooth decay) I almost don't want to go because I don't want them to think I am a bad mother.I just got her insurance straight and we are seeing the dentist tomorrow.Would you say I am a bad mother and should I be worried about the dentist thinks of me?Thanks for all your comments.
Answers: My 10 year old daughter is going to the dentist tomorrow and I am embarrassed because her teeth are awful.She has cavities and pretty much has had problems since she was little.I feel guilty because I was very young when I had her and I would giver her a bottle when she would sleep and she has been having problems since because of it(tooth decay) I almost don't want to go because I don't want them to think I am a bad mother.I just got her insurance straight and we are seeing the dentist tomorrow.Would you say I am a bad mother and should I be worried about the dentist thinks of me?Thanks for all your comments.
Good for you that you're taking her!
Don't be embarrassed; at least you're on the right track and from this point on, you'll keep up with her dental visits, checkups, etc...
In the future, though, please don't let the lack of dental insurance keep you from taking her to the dentist... payment arrangements are usually accepted, and she won't suffer the consequences from lack of care.
I wish you both the best of luck at your visit!
:)
NO NO NO, I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND I AM THINKING OF TAKING HER TO THE DENTIST.
You aren't a bad mother because you're getting things worked out now,you care and you've informed yourself.
No way should you feel embarrassed.
Get your child's teeth fixed. It's important.
no trust me everything will be fine and i am sure the dentist wont think any less of you as a mother good luck my lil bro who is 10 has the same problen and he wasnt exactly the best patient when he got his cavites filled!
of course not. just explain to them youre problem and they wont be rude about it. hope i helped :)
I don't think you're a bad mother at all. You are, after all, taking your daughter to the dentist. The fact that she may have bad teeth now doesn't mean she'll have bad teeth forever. Sure, you could have known better than to give her a bottle at bedtime, but sometimes we just do what feels right at the time. Dentist offices can be a bit daunting, and it seems the people there always have something to say about our teeth, but don't let it inhibit you. It's better you take your daughter to the dentist than not at all.
Teeth can become stronger with a good diet and good brushing and flossing habits. You may want to look at some floss picks that make it easy for a kid to floss her teeth with one hand. You can also look into making sure she eats more fruits and vegetables, as these can be good for making teeth stronger. I've heard that pineapple is good for making teeth stronger, as well as some other fruits.
You can even buy a juicer and juice the veggies to start off with. It'll make it more fun for her to eat them.
For more ideas, you can check out the book called "You Are What You Eat" by Gillian McKeith. She has a section in there on how to eat to create stronger teeth.
Good luck :)
Regardless of whether you gave her a bottle or not, your attention and care of your childs teeth is a separate issue. Had you been cleaning her mouth (as a baby) and brushing her teeth as a toddler and child, then you would have seen their condition and and acted appropriately.
It is too easy to neglect a baby's oral care because we think that since they have no teeth then they can't have problems there.
Use this as a life lesson and ask the dentist what you can do to keep her teeth in tip-top shape; from the brushing technique, to what foods to stay away from etc.
Plus, lead by example. Have her brush when you brush. That way you keep each other honest and she sees it as important because you do. I once read that a parent usually has to brush their kids teeth until they are approx 9 years old, just to be sure it is done correctly and well enough.