Monday, December 3, 2007

FLOURIDE!

Those with kiddos....listen up! After MANY phone conversations and much research I have found the answers I wanted about Flouride and babies:) And to think...I have been working on teeth for years and truly didn't know what was best! I have a terrible (or wonderful, depending on how you look at it) habit of NEVER taking the First persons word for it! I'll explain: Jarom always gets after me because he'll tell me something and I immediately ask a million questions about it. Then, I always ask a million other people, etc. He always responds with "don't you believe me?
I don't know why... but I've always been that way. It doesn't mean I don't believe or trust what I'm being told....just that I love to read and read or do any amount of digging necessary to get ALL the facts and gather MANY opinions...then decide for myself! I'm stubborn and independent....bad combo. Ha...
Anyhow, I finally got to the bottom of some conflicting advice from my pediatrician and jaxson's pediatric dentist. Yep...he went to his very first dentist appointment this week...and I FORGOT THE CAMERA! How could I do that??? I about died. Anyhow, my pediatrician has always advised me to give jaxson flouride drops (since the eruption of his first tooth) and I started to question whether or not I should if we live in a community that has flouridated water. She also told me that I DID NOT need to taken jaxson to a dentist....BUT what did I do.....immediately made an appointment:) I took him to get his one-half of 2 teeth cleaned and checked for problems!!! ha ha ha. It was the cutest office ever with a barnyard and animal theme. It had a huge barn door in the lobby and the inside was cut-out to make a play area. During the appointment jarom decided to take jaxson into the play area. A few minutes later I walked over to see how things were going in "the barn" and noticed that my child was playing with leggos (most likely the perfect size to swallow and choke) and all the while my husband was completely ignoring him and instead playing motor speedway on the playstation 2. Men. Whatever.
The Pediatric dentist told me that a child should not have supplemental flouride drops/tablets if they live in a community with flouridated water and are getting at least 4 ounces of water a day. This includes the water to brush their teeth, mixed with juice, drank in the tub:), and ANY AND ALL water they consume throughout a 24 hour period. If they have eccessive flouride it will cause Flourosis or staining on their permanent teeth. I then called my pediatrician and told her what I had just found out! She stood by her recommendation...so I was left no choice but to call the dentist again and explain the entire scenario and ask again....What should I do?
Anyhow...one thing I know for sure after working with doctors for so many years...is that they all have different opinions about the same exact things! It is so important to reserach things and make educated choices for yourself....especially when it comes to our babies:) I will NOT be giving him flouride supplements...and too think....there could have been a possiblity of him getting flourosis if I gave him excessive amounts while his permant teeth were developing! Somebody would have died.....that's all I have to say!
Have a wondeful day....ha ha ha!

7 comments:

Brittany said...

What a researcher you are!! I am proud! Anyway--can't wait to see Jaxson tonight! Have fun at work!

Laci said...

Ok good to know. My doc also told me no drops so yaay for him :) k miss researcher now figure this out- Can you bleach your teeth while nursing?? I have heard both so I don't dare till I know for sure. I now have 2 dentists that say yes (but they havent even heard of the issue before) and 2 moms who say no? Ok thats your new job now get workin :)

The Johnsons said...

Kristin you are great! That is awesome that you are like that. I think it's a good character trait. Jaxson will always be taken care of. I wish that I had been more like that with Aidan (my second one) when he was little. He could have had fewer issues if I wouldn't have just taken the doctor's word on everything! Jaxson is getting so big (sorry, I know you don't want to hear that) and he is so cute!

Kristin Bishop said...

Laci:)
I will get back to you on this! It's funny you asked because I have asked several people since I had jaxson...but never really got a for-sure answer. My pediatrician, OB, the nurses at both clinics and the lactation consultant at my hospital have never been asked before me??? Wierd. It was one of my first questions! ha ha... Bleaching those teeth after 10 months of not being able to! Anyhow, I decided against doing it until jaxson wasn't 100% reliant on breast milk. Now that he eats food and only nurses 3-4 times a day I do. My pediatrician said that she has never heard that you cannot...and that as long as you don't sleep in the trays, nothing will be passed on to your child. (if you sleep in them you obviously swallow and ingest more of the peroxide). So...until I hear more...I would say it's up to you! But...if your exclusively nursing little gray right now....I chose to wait. I'm almost positive it can't hurt them...but better safe than sorry! They have such sensitive tummies when they are new....if I even enjoyed an ice-cream jaxson would freak. Now I can do and eat whatever I want! talk to you soon. hope that helps...
kristin

Allyson said...

My mom was also "the researcher" she was constantly saying.."they say..." until now everyone asks "who's they?" almost in synch. She claims I love to read and sing because she read and sang to me in the womb. She is the resident expert on everything. Basically, I love it. If you think about it, doesn't it feel good to be the resident expert on everything?? Keep posting the current findings because I'll need it someday!:) You are currently my resident expert in surviving and thriving away from home. I also wanted to say that the article about mothers in the Ensign this month reminded me of you. What a happy and wonderful calling...even when you don't get a day off:) You're doing great, keep it up!

Laci said...

Thanks!! I know the dentists I asked had never been asked before either lame-o!! Well atleast I have an excuse if my teeth start looking like corn ;)

The Wells Family said...

With bleaching, my dentist said that there is no official research saying that you should/shoudn't, but he said to ere with caution and NOT to bleach until you are done nursing. He also said just make sure you brush your babe's teeth (with non-flouride toothpaste) twice a day and don't let them go to sleep with milk/juice in their mouths (bottles...) and they should be just fine. I just went to the dentist yesterday and brought Bobby with me and he said he really doesn't suggest people bring in their little ones for check-ups until they are three years old (or if you notice problems) because it ends up being a wrestling match and most are STILL trying to get teeth like Bobby. This is what I have been going by. My dentist has taken care of Tim McGraw's teeth..so I figure if the movie stars trust him, maybe I should. :) Ultimately DO RESEARCH (I totally do this too until my eyes go cross-eyed!) and do what YOU feel is best for your little one. :)