Anyone else not go to the dentist?

[emma1325]

We are skeptical of conventional medical/dentistry care and have not been in years. My 2 girls, ages 4 and 6, have never seen a dentist.

They brush twice a day with a non-fluoride toothpaste, and drink spring water most of the time. Almost no juice or milk (and absolutely no soda.) We limit sugar intake...almost no refined food or junk.

Anyway, I've peeked in both of their mouths and haven't ever seen anything suspicious. White, shiny, healthy looking teeth. My 6 year old recently announced that she has 3 "wiggly" teeth.

Her school recently sent home a permission slip for a dental check up at school. The check up involved x-rays, fluoride treatment and cleaning. I called the dental office involved and asked if she could just get the cleaning/checkup, and not the x-ray or fluoride treatment, and the woman (after putting me on hold for a long time) said that they can't do that. So I didn't sign the permission slip and she didn't get a checkup. We don't believe in fluoride or unnecessary x-rays due to the health risks of these treatments.

Does anyone else take this approach (of no dental visits at all?)
Anyone here think I'm doing my kids a disservice by not taking them to a dentist? Is there anything specific I should be concerned about regarding their teeth?

Thanks!

[adoremybabe]

I personally wouldn't avoid the dentist altogether. If you take your children to a dentist, you have the right to refuse flouride treatments and possibly even x rays.

[angelpie545]

I didn't take my kids to the dentist until my oldest was seven and my youngest five. I believe the recommendation used to be that they start seeing that dentist around five years old...at least that's what I heard? At any rate, I kept a close eye on my kid's teeth and if I had seen any sign of decay or discoloration I would have surely taken them in sooner. Because pediatric dentists tend to over-react a bit on some things and IMO, tend want to move to the most invasive procedures quickly, I prefer to avoid them for as long as possible unless medically necessary. I wouldn't avoid the dentist altogether, though. I certainly believe that dental care is vital and necessary to a child's health. As the previous poster mentioned, you do have the right to decline flouride treatments and X-rays, although doing so might not be so easy in a mainstream pediatric dental office. I would personally suggest seeing holistic dentist if X-rays and flouride treatments are something you would prefer not to have done-a holistic dentist would probably be more understanding and accommodating than a mainstream one.

[sbgrace]

We have a pediatric dentist (cheaper but requires travel) and a regular dentist (local). Both would typically do x-rays and flouride. Both don't do it with my children. We do cleanings and I bring my own paste to the regular dentist as all theirs have flouride. The pediatric dentist has a non-flouride one.
I think you can find someone to do a cleaning without the other stuff. I would do that.

[425lisamarie]

Originally Posted by angelpie545

I didn't take my kids to the dentist until my oldest was seven and my youngest five. I believe the recommendation used to be that they start seeing that dentist around five years old...at least that's what I heard? At any rate, I kept a close eye on my kid's teeth and if I had seen any sign of decay or discoloration I would have surely taken them in sooner. Because pediatric dentists tend to over-react a bit on some things and IMO, tend want to move to the most invasive procedures quickly, I prefer to avoid them for as long as possible unless medically necessary. I wouldn't avoid the dentist altogether, though. I certainly believe that dental care is vital and necessary to a child's health. As the previous poster mentioned, you do have the right to decline flouride treatments and X-rays, although doing so might not be so easy in a mainstream pediatric dental office. I would personally suggest seeing holistic dentist if X-rays and flouride treatments are something you would prefer not to have done-a holistic dentist would probably be more understanding and accommodating than a mainstream one.

Same for me to all of this. Mine have not seen one yet, and are 3.5 and 5.5 but I plan to take them soon. DD will be great I know it, but DS i'm a little worried about. I wouldn't have DREAMED of taking him even 6 months ago but now i think he'll be good too. I think the first time i'm going to find a holistic dentist and just go for a chat and to look at their teeth. We have a good dental history and their teeth are very bright and healthy looking and they brush a lot with toothpaste, and we have a "swishing water" habit that they are habitual about.