Thursday, April 13, 2006

Tooth Trouble...

Sigh.... Well, at least it's not raining. I mean nearly everyday for the last few weeks... oh it sucks! Especially with a toddler who's tired of being cooped up indoors, and a mommy who is about ready to start drinking. Heavily.

Also, I think maybe Travis has a "c" word. Yup, my little guy may have a *whisper* cavity. Ugh!

I noticed a couple of mornings ago, when I was spooning yogurt into his open bird-mouth. One of his lower teeth looked like it had some whitish, yellowish food stuck in it, but on the back of the tooth, on the bottom near the gumline - not on the front. It's actually quite hard to even see this particular spot. It involved having his mouth wide open, and me being slightly below him. So, I've tried brushing. It's hard enough to keep his mouth open, let alone being able to see it at that angle. I thought it was gotten, I thought I was being thourough... but yesterday at playgroup, I was feeding him snack, kneeling next to him, while he sat in a little chair. I saw it again. When we got home, I pinned him down, and tried to hold his mouth open to see while I brushed. He screamed. I repeated the scenario with Jeff after dinner, replete with flashlight. It's STILL there! So, I am calling to find a pediatric dentist. They are all either closed or at lunch at the moment.

I guess he was supposed to go to the dentist when his 1st tooth came in. Like at 6 months? That seems rediculous! Well, this will be our first trip.

I found some info online regarding "nursing caries" - basically, bottles at night, and to a lesser extent, nursing - can cause cavities. We brush, and he likes brushing, mostly. But at night, he's cranky, and I usually end up brushing them while he's asleep. I am also guilty of nursing him to sleep... both for naps, and at night... and he still latches on a couple of times in the early morning hours. Ack.... I hope, hope, hope it's nothing serious. Maybe it's just some tartar, or a mineral build-up - or something. I just don't know what I'd do if my poor little man had to deal with a cavity right now.
I feel like such a bad mommy. :(
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6 comments:

hollibobolli said...

This just reminded me of how more diligent I have got to be about making Faith brush her teeth - YIKES!!! It's just that she ends up brushing her hair with toothpaste.

I'm sorry for Travis - I'm glad that's the only "c" word he picked up.. I read that all wrong at first!!

Anita said...

Oh, I understand about the rain. The rain and my 11 month old has been driving me slowly insane...ready to go drinking anytime! ;-)
Annie in the Silicon Valley

Jamie said...

It could be much worse. Would you like to hear some horror stories? I've got a few. At least you're taking care of it right away.

Mama C-ta said...

Oh no. Good thing you noticed though before there was pain. I worry about the nursing thing too since we still nurse alllll night long. And I'm lucky if I brush his once a day. And of course the LC's I've asked would never admit that nursing to sleep can cause tooth decay but it can. I don't care what they say. Maybe not as bad as a bottle but still. Another BF coverup!

Christine said...

LOL, jjbear... I know all about your family and teeth!

Mrs. Flinger said...

OH, wow, I had no idea. I never took LB to the dentist. Oops. Shoot. Let us know how it goes.

And you, too, about the rain? YEA. Right. There. With. You.