Who is responsible for taking care of children’s teeth?

Unfortunately, even though as a child I always cleaned my teeth and ate very few sweets, all my back teeth are filled - it dates from the early 1950s when dentists were paid for the work they did so my butcher of a dentist filled every tooth as it appeared - without any pain killers. However, DD1 and DD2 are in their early 40s and until recently neither had any fillings. To DD2's dismay she had to have one recently. Neither GD - aged 13 and 23 - have any fillings.

The enamel on my children’s teeth is weak plus they lack the saliva to aid really good tooth care despite cleaning regularly. My children were restricted with sweets, brushed their teeth twice daily and visited the dentist regularly. My mother brought me up the same but by the age of 6, I had an abscess. My kids all had fillings at quite a young age. However, despite a determination to find a dentist, my children are struggling to find a dentist for their kids and are really worried for their children.
Keir Starmer is right, the lack of preventative dentistry is a real problem when even good parents can’t get a dentist.

I was born in 1940 and my mother was very strict about brushing my teeth properly. There was virtually no sugar and few sweets as it was wartime and I have had terrible teeth since I was quite young. I think a lot must be genetic. My parents and grandparents had false teeth

Yes, paddyann, that has been my experience too. Even during one of the lockdowns, my dental emergency was dealt with. Didn't want to comment too much about that, because some people are having a dreadful time, and also in case GNs on here thought I was saying 'I'm all right Jock.' It's just a fact.
I wonder if the 'Dental Droughts' reported coincide with whichever Country you are in, or if it is on a county by county basis. Maybe some of our Welsh or Northern Irish GNs could give us an insight into this?

Indeed! Not all parents do what they “should” for a whole host of reasons. And not all children have good teeth-once they are teenagers try stopping them buying sweets! The demise and scarcity of dentists for children (and adults) in this country is not something we should be proud of.

My dd can’t get NHS care for herself or her children in our area of Scotland since her dentist left and the practise closed. She’s having to pay for private care now.

It’s the parents responsibility. It’s also the parents responsibility to tell the grandparents to stop sneaking grandkids sweets all the time too…

Do any of you grandparents sneak your children sweets?

I was also subject to the dentists who were paid per filling.My mum took us to the dentist religiously and I have a mouthful of fillings. Friends who didn’t see a dentist had no fillings and probably mothers who were less vigilant about teeth rushing than mine was!
It’s just not always fair or as simple as neglect from parents!

Happilyretired123

Do any of you grandparents sneak your children sweets?

No.
Never have and never would.
I trust me daughter to have had the intelligence to decide for herself what was healthy for her children.

Me daughter.
My daughter

Please read as to the truth about how our Dentist got to where we are now.

lowdownnhs.info/comment/nhs-dentistry-where-did-it-all-go-wrong/

I allow cookies with a glass of milk when we get in from school. Hot chocolate in winter months- wicked grannie

This story is true. I volunteer with a woman who has an autistic son. He has beautiful teeth but about a year ago he developed a bad back tooth.
It took 6 weeks to get into his own nhs dentist. They said we can’t deal with him, he has to be mildly sedated. Even worse, you will have to travel to Romford, we live in Southend.
No one asked how she was going to get there, she has no transport.
It took nearly a year to finally get that tooth removed.
If you’ve never seen an autistic child in pain, it’s beyond distressing.

petra - thanks1, that says so much about reality

I forgot the best part. She did get an appointment at Romford.
We drove there and all they did was look at the tooth and say oh yes, it has to come out. Go back to your dentist and make another appointment with us
It’s like f*&£+-g Alice in wonderland. 😡

There used to be a dentist whose role was for people with learning disabilities.

He knew anyone I took to him really well, in most cases he had seen them since childhood.

He also had a nurse who had been working with him for years.

I wonder what happened to him?

paddyann dental check ups are free for everyone in Scotland, but only if you can get on an NHS dental list. My dental surgery closed during lockdown and most people in our village were left without a dentist. The next biggest town has several dental practices, but NONE were taking on NHS patiemts. I have now registered with a dentist 8 miles away. Not far, but as I don't drive, it's 2 bus journeys away! If I was a mother with young children it would be virtually impossible to get there without a 3 hour round trip.

petra

Please read as to the truth about how our Dentist got to where we are now.

lowdownnhs.info/comment/nhs-dentistry-where-did-it-all-go-wrong/

Everyone who moans about the lack of NHS dentists should read that. And stop thinking dentists are just greedy.

kittylester and petra

My dentist explained to me exactly why she was going to move over to private dentistry at the time.
I think most people don't remember what happened.

Ot maybe, just never knew?

It wouldn't enter people's thinking until they couldn't get a dentist.

No one likes to think about the dentist until they have to.

And anyone who thinks Labour will fix the NHS should also read it kitty.

Unless you are my middle daughter kittylester - she used to love going to the dentist because she always came away with "sparkling" teeth. The dentists surgery was her "favourite place"!

I can see her (in my mind's eyes) skipping about with joy on her way home ... lots of praise from our lovely dentist, stickers and a new brush...

As an adult her teeth are less perfect unfortunately- but still pretty good.

Luckygirl3

Let us give parents the benefit of he doubt here. If there were proper preventive dentistry available to chidlren, then parents would get feedback and sound advice following a dental checkup - as things stand there are no dental checkups for children at which this can happen. Some of my GC cannot get onto a dentist's list either privately or NHS - just zilch available.

Luckygirl3,

I totally agree that it is the parents responsibilities to teach and train their children to take care of their teeth .. And to take them to the dentist for cleansings and check ups every 6 months ..