Pregnant and wanting to avoid cavities!

[newbymom05]

#1 Son was exclusively b'fed for 6 months, NO sugar, NO juice, NO processed food (all homemade organic babyfood, etc) and he still had a cavity before he was a year old. Now we use Spry and MI Paste, follow the WAP diet (or try to!) and the decay has halted. What can I do now that I'm pregnant to avoid this situation again? Disinfection? Chewing xylitol gum now? We'll certainly start brushing/cleaning earlier, but any other suggestions?

[rumi]

well, mama,. sounds to me like you've got it covered. I am not so convinced by WAP myself, but better nutrition can only help.
I think MI is by prescription only so I wouldn't overdo it. I do love the idea of getting the calcium right onto the teeth, though!

If we have another, I do plan to try rinsing after nursing once the baby has teeth and is eating solids. And rinsing / brushing after the solids too.

[deditus]

I would definitely do the xylitol gum-in fact that is what my dentist recommends. I would also look into a reuteri supplement. It decreases strep mutans. I take this one from Natures Way-

http://www.vitacost.com/Natures-Way-...philus-Reuteri

[newbymom05]

Originally Posted by rumi

well, mama,. sounds to me like you've got it covered. I am not so convinced by WAP myself, but better nutrition can only help.
I think MI is by prescription only so I wouldn't overdo it. I do love the idea of getting the calcium right onto the teeth, though!

If we have another, I do plan to try rinsing after nursing once the baby has teeth and is eating solids. And rinsing / brushing after the solids too.

I'm not all that convinced by WAP, either, honestly. My mother grew up on an organic dairy farm and never had pasteurized milk until she left home, plenty of animal meat and fat, and she has terrible teeth and always has. But it certainly can't hurt to try it, right?

But I wanted to respond to the Recaldent comment--it isn't rx but otc, it's just hard to find in the US for some reason. Chlorexhedine (sp?) is rx which makes no sense to me--it tastes so nasty it isn't like anyone would drink it!

I would definitely do the xylitol gum-in fact that is what my dentist recommends. I would also look into a reuteri supplement. It decreases strep mutans. I take this one from Natures Way-

Emgremore, i've never heard of reuteri, thanks for the lead! I have to say, I hate Spry gum although I hear Recaldent is really tasty.

[rumi]

But I wanted to respond to the Recaldent comment--it isn't rx but otc, i

My box of MI Paste says "US Federal Law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a dentist"

[newbymom05]

Originally Posted by rumi

My box of MI Paste says "US Federal Law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a dentist"

Wow, I have boxes of the stuff and never noticed! : Thanks for the heads up. I *thought* it was OTC in other countries--I wonder if it's an FDA issue? Like they're still testing it? Or I'm wrong about that too, lol.

[kaPOW!]

That is funny, I just order it from Dentist.net. I've been told that it's still really safe, so long as you don't have milk allergies. My dentists know that my son and I take it, and it's pretty much a "use it as often as you can think to" situation.