Anonymous wrote:A lot also has to do with the bacterial flora of your and your child's mouth. Certain bacteria cause cavities. There is some evidence that children are colonized with the bacteria from their mothers - sharing food and cleaning the pacifier? So if you have bad teeth your child may have the same cavity-causing bacteria. Would suggest avoiding sharing of food etc.

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Anonymous wrote:Well water. No flouride. Two teengers with no cavities. Good dental hygiene, good diet, little sugar or soda. Flsding most important ting you can do.

well water, too

three other friends with well water

all on fluoride pills

We lived in Europe (where there is no fluoride) when DD was little. She ended up with a mouthful of cavities, despite good brushing and flossing habits. We moved back to the US and DD drinks a ton of tap water (with fluoride). She did not get one cavity after we got back and now has adult teeth with no cavities. it's anecdotal, I know, but I'm sold.

Genetics are huge. My step daughter had a mouth full of cavities but my son doesn't. They eat the same, brush and floss the same, drink the same water, see the same dentist.

Sealants.

I'm going to second the pp who said most of this is genetics. I have terrible teeth, but have always had great dental hygiene and floss nightly. My husband often substitutes Listerine mouth washing for his only once a day teeth brushing, and on occasion will floss. He gets tons of compliments from the dentist, while I get regular lessons on flossing and how to brush better. People pay thousands to get white, straight teeth like his (and he is a big coffee and red wine drinker, too) I just hope my kids have my husband's teeth.

One thing you can do to avoid fluoride is to brush your kids teeth with baking soda instead of toothpaste. My Dad has done this his whole life, I should ask him why...

Either brush after all meals and snacks, or drink (and swish) water after all meals and snacks. Don't snack on the go, but make a deliberate stop in your day to eat (and clean the mouth after).

Drink more water throughout the day.

Talk to your dentist about sealants, and research them yourself.

If you have more babies in the future, refrain from sharing utensils with them, or using your saliva to rinse their paci, etc. There is some research that the bacteria that cause caries are transferred from parent to child in this manner.

A lot also has to do with the bacterial flora of your and your child's mouth. Certain bacteria cause cavities. There is some evidence that children are colonized with the bacteria from their mothers - sharing food and cleaning the pacifier? So if you have bad teeth your child may have the same cavity-causing bacteria. Would suggest avoiding sharing of food etc.

Well water. No flouride. Two teengers with no cavities. Good dental hygiene, good diet, little sugar or soda. Flsding most important ting you can do.

Diet is extremely important. Even the American Dental Association admits that good dental health begins in the womb having enough tooth required nutrients such as calcium, vitamin A and D.

There's a new wave of research showing that Amorphos Calcium phosphate (not sure of the spelling) ACP actually is better than fluoride because it contains nutrients the teeth need to heal themselves when cavities just begin. It's in some new toothpastes without fluoride.

Sugar, soda and junk food are the enemies of teeth. Good nutrition nourishes the body as well as the teeth. Fluoride is a drug which has adverse side effects.

There's also research showing how vitamin D deficiency is linked to more tooth decay.

However, there is no research showing that fluoride-deficiency is linked to more tooth decay.

A lot of it is genetic. I know siblings with the same brushing and food habits and one has amazon teeth (no cavities in 30 years) and one has numerous cavities and other issues. It's the thickness of tooth enamel and ph of your mouth.
I don't have any useful advice or fluoride opinions. Oh do floss regularly.

Are you saying that your 3 yr old brushes his own teeth? Do you follow up after DC brushes? 3 is pretty young to be brushing own teeth. My DS is 4 and our dentist told us that a thorough brushing - twice daily - is more important than using fluoride toothpaste a d that the fluoride in the water is enough so far. We still brush DS's teeth for him and let him do a little on his own after we finish.

I'm in the anti-fluoride camp with three kids (10, 7 & 6), they are all cavity free. Brush twice a day, floss nightly. I also don't give them candy except on occasion (2-3 times a year) and that is usually chocolate and not some chewy, sticky candy.

The Weston A. Price Foundation (WAPF) has some interesting info on diet and cavities and remineralizing teeth. I don't follow their eating recommendation as a vegetarian, but I believe it may have some merit.

Pro fluoride here, but I won't be snarky.
I grew up on well water (no fluoride) and many cavities, even with good dental hygiene. I'm not going to do that to my children. They are 4 and 6, brush daily (2 times is the goal but it doesn't always happen). Floss occasionally. Sugary drinks (juice) only 1-2 times a week. No cavities. Interesting enough, both have an area of concern in the same spot (lower left side) that I have to ensure they get.
Fluoride has been in most cities for 50-60 years without any of the effects anti-fluoridation claim. There is no harm. It is not a by product of aluminum production - that's a different chemical compound. Let your children grow up cavity free and then have them choose as adults what they want to do.

As long as he doesn't swallow it, it's fine. You need some fluoride to protect his teeth. Get those cavities filled and put a protective coating over them. Your dentist knows what to do.

My 3 yo has cavities in his canine teeth that are starting to be quite visible. They don't hurt (yet).
I had bad teeth too as a child, no matter how good my dental hygiene was.

I would like to ask this question without turning it into a debate pro or against fluoride.

Most things I read about fluoride tell me that it is generally not good for your whole body health. It may help prevent cavities, but may cause other problems if you drink fluoridated water. I understand this view is controversial but, for those of us who believe there is some truth in it, what is the alternative to protect against cavities?

I make my 3 yo brush his teeth with fluoride toothpaste and rinse with fluoride too, following dentist recommendation and trying to make sure he rinses very well. But I really dont't know what this does or if it can be also be bad for him.

I am interested in hearing from others ... If you think fluoride is bad, bu your teeth are bad, what do you do?