• What does tooth decay have to do with birth?

    Date: 2011.01.20 | Category: Rambling | Tags:

    I am sad to say that my two year old son has developed dental cavities, on his upper front teeth. We eat reasonably healthily, and brush our teeth reasonably well. My four year old daughter has healthy teeth. I have a few theories, but one thing is clear in my mind: I do not want my little boy to have rotten teeth, and I sure don’t want his adult teeth affected. So I went to a dentist. Sounds straight forward enough, right?

    I never envisaged having a two year old with dental decay, but I did think that dental care would be available to young children. Normal, common sense dental care. When I look at Mothering, there is no shortage of parents who would like to treat their babies’ tooth decay in alternative ways, through dietary means or with xylitol. Because I don’t like the thought of my little son having to endure drilling and filling, that sure is appealing.

    But the tooth decay has been getting worse, so I did what I thought was the best – I looked at dentists. Now, there are many schools of thought about dental care, and obviously they vary slightly from country to country. How could I possibly have expected that the two schools of though in our Eastern European country of residence are 1) doing nothing, and 2) drilling the decay away, but not filling the tooth?

    The dentist I went to see today told me that there was nothing they could do for two year olds, because they are unable to be obedient patients. He said that there are two causes of early childhood caries. They are too much sugar, and improper dental hygiene. He then asked whether my little boy used any bottles at night. I answered that I was nursing. After he got over the initial shock that someone would nurse a two year old, he pointed to that as the cause of his tooth decay. Because breastmilk contains sugar, you know? He “guaranteed” (a hundred percent sure, he added just for good measure) that the tooth decay would stop if I immediately quit breastfeeding.

    After also recommending fluoride, this “dentist” then said that sugar during the day was fine, and there was no problem with drinking lots of juice, or eating lots of chocolate. As long as I brush my son’s teeth once (!?) a day, and stopped breastfeeding, the cavities would stop developing. Of course, his teeth would turn black. When I told him that I had read a lot about the correlation between dental decay and breastfeeding, and that there was none, he asked why I had come there if it wasn’t for advice? Well, for a filling, perhaps?

    So, what does tooth decay have to do with birth? Apparently, obstetricians are not the only ignorant and arrogant medical professionals in this country. Maternity care is not the only aspect of the medical system that is so very poor that I am left with no choice but to… do it myself. Back to xylitol and dietary healing of cavities. Not because I am a fan of these methods, but because there is literally no other choice. And my boy is nursing as I type!