Sorry for the long post title. :)
Since writing about the New York Times article on ECC (Early Childhood Caries) the other day, I’ve gotten a large volume of hits from people looking for help with their own dental woes. I wanted to make sure everything I’ve written is easily accesible, so I decided to post a little update with a comprehensive post list.
Cora Ruth got her first teeth at 4 months old and started showing signs of decay in her top four teeth before her first birthday. I have had problems with my teeth my whole life, and our son Aidan has “weak enamel.” Below you’ll find a list of everything I’ve written on the subject of dental health.
Scroll down below the list to see progressive photos of Cora’s decay and treatment, culminating with a photo of her teeth taken yesterday – 3 days shy of her second birthday. I hope you find some things to guide your own research.
Cora’s Teeth (12 months)
Update & Research (14 months)
Her surgery (14.5 months – General Anesthesia)
Post-Partum Dental Health
Q & A With The Dental Essentials
Our Elimination Diet (with free printables)
Dental Health and My Reproductive Health
More thoughts & research (23 months – NYT Article Reaction)
Facial Structure, Orthodontics, & Dental Health
2-26-2011
5-13-2011
5-24-2011 (post surgery – crowns)
3-10-2012 (crowns have fallen off – no new decay)
My son had the exact same thing happen to him (tooth decay at an early age, getting crowns, etc). He is now going on 6 years old and getting his permanent teeth in, and I worry that his teeth aren’t going to do so well. No matter if I brush his teeth twice a day and switched our diets, when he was younger he still had tooth decay. The new teeth coming in aren’t looking so good. I’m going to be making an appointment with his dentist soon so he can had a tooth removed (a baby one) so the teeth can come in straight, I will also be asking questions.
One dentist we had prescribed him fluoride tablets, and even said he has weak enamel. He was a great dentist but we had to switch to a local dentist who I can barely understand (thick accent).
I did a bunch of research as well, and sometimes it doesn’t matter how often you brush their teeth, sometimes it is genetics that take place.. and like you, I (also my husband) have had dental problems.. I’m just wondering if we could have passed this on to our kids as well… (not meaning to offend or anything)
Jess, I think you are completely correct about “passing it down,” but I personally wouldn’t call it “genetics” like it’s hopeless. Maybe “epigenetics.” I have come around to the hypothesis that my daughter didn’t get what she needed in utero as her teeth developed, and that was likely due to some deficiencies in me. I eat well, so the only reason she wouldn’t benefit is if I just don’t absorb/process things well. I ate the standard American freezer-food diet growing up. My hope is that we can turn things around for our kids’ now-developing adult teeth and for THEIR KIDS’ teeth by eating real food. I’m sorry you are still struggling with it. We very well may be with you as our children grow, and I know how frustrating it is!!
I was meaning that the research I had done said it was genetics. Anyway, I agree with you… That there is hope for turning things around for our kids and their kids’, by making real food (as you stated) and by not letting them consume things that are bad for their teeth.. and have a regular brushing and flossing routine. :)
Like you I was also brought up on mostly frozen foods, and sugary drinks… plus my parents rarely ever took us (me and my siblings) to the dentist.
I hope we won’t have these problems as our children grow… I pray that our (yours and mine) kids have healthy and strong teeth as they grow older.
I also agree that what we may have eaten during pregnancy may not have gotten fully absorbed which may have caused a deficiency for our little ones.
Have you read Cure Tooth Decay by Ramiel Nagel? Testimonials from this book are incredibly encouraging as we work through the protocol with our 6-yr-old. She just turned up with cavities lately because we moved here last June and never had any issues; her teeth were excellent. Now she has three! The only thing that changed in our diet was that we were drinking wonderful raw milk before moving here. I know that made a huge change in her teeth health; miss it!! Radiant Life sells the best (recommended) cod liver oil/butter oil and x-factor butter oil — both are in Nagel’s protocol.
Yep! We used Ramiel’s protocol, too! I need to post an update. It’s been two years since we discovered her decay and she’s doing great now! :)
My son had his teeth removed (he was getting absesses from previous treatments of early dental decays) when he was around three or four years old. . He too got his first set of teeth at four months old and was all night feeder. But I blame the sugar in food such as teething biscuits or yogurt. Anyway he is 12 years old today and no cavities on any of his permanent teeth. He will be getting braces though as we decided no artifical teeth for him. (We should have as it did affect his speech and it probably would have kept his teeth straight)
My newest baby girl seem to be following her brother’s footstep so far: set of teeth at late four months (she mouth/teeth everything she got her hands on, including other people’s food) and all night nursing. I am currently cleaning her teeth frequently with plain tap water (it has floride ) with guaze and/or bristle toothbrush for babies.I am also giving her sip of water after she eats solid.I don’t bother with the teeth training set that you see in stores. They didn’t help my son when I was using them before I found out about his cavities. And no sugar added food. I hope it will work.
My new baby has teeth early as well. I am hoping to avoid a retelling of our previous tale by doing much the same as you. I also tried to pre-empt development problems in utero by making sure I had enough of specific vitamins like vitamin d. I’ve written a recent summary and update here: http://www.raisingthebarrs.com/2013/04/arresting-early-childhood-decay-an-update-on-cora/