Beware: Dried Mango on kids teeth

[Mango Lover]

Who would have thought that the packets of dried mango that daddy was bringing home
from his business trips to the Philippines would end up in a dentist bill of $5,000 ?

That's right,  beware....

Our dentist near Tanglin mall said he has seen it all too often.

We regularly gave our kids a piece of dried mango as a treat, thinking that we were giving
them a healthy treat option.     Now our 4 year old daughter has had two tooth extractions,
a wire spacer and two back teeth encapsulated in stainless steel to protect the nerve until
adult teeth form.

All done in hospital while unconscious as it would have been traumatic.

What an ordeal !

Also, the dentist says start your child on adult toothpaste as soon as possible.  That
kids stuff is useless and does not toughen the enamel.

Just a warning for new parents....

Ciao

[thanks]

Sorry to hear about your kid's experience. Thanks for that warning. I give my kids dried fruit often and I do notice they tend to stick to the teeth.

[Also thanks]

Wow! So sorry to hear about that ordeal, OP!

My dentist cautioned me about fruit of any kind, because of the acid quality, and now when I give fruit snacks I give cheese or milk as well to cut the acid. I was giving my child sugar free apple juice to drink thinking it was OK because it was no sugar added, but it was creating a acid condition in the mouth that was eating away at the enamel, so it's not just what sticks to the teeth but just the entire ph of the mouth.

The adult toothpaste I didn't know about, so thanks will do that.

[jalanperak]

Also, the dentist says start your child on adult toothpaste as soon as possible.  That
kids stuff is useless and does not toughen the enamel.

Just a warning for new parents....

Ciao

Toothpaste doesn't "toughen enamel." It sounds like you need to find a new dentist.

[strong knashers]

Well on the other hand fruit is an essential part of any kid's diet. Mine eat lots of it - not much dried though - and they have excellent teeth. Just been to the dentist in the UK and he said they were very strong and clean. Fruits like orange and mango are pretty acidic - balance them with less acidic like papaya which is massively important for eye health in this very sunny climate.

This is what I believe and do based on casual research over the years:

Tooth decay is partly genetic and also caused by bacteria you may have passed onto your child if you also have decay and have shared utensils with them at an early age.

I never give kids juice or fizzy drinks at home. They do get them at other kids' houses and the odd lime juice down the hawker. But at home every drink is plain cooled water. No bubbles.

We avoid sugary cereals.

We avoid very vinegary foods, although they do eat some light vinegar on the salads we eat daily.

I never give sweeties. They get them at other people's houses, I turn a blind eye. If they bring home a party bag of candy, it sits on the fridge for a day until forgotten, then goes in the trash.

All fruit is given in one go. I don't let them graze on it during the day. Its part of a meal followed by a glass of water to wash acid off.

Most nights I help them brush to be sure they get round the back of the molars. They use a tiny bit of adult paste - small because I understand there's a lot of fluoride in the water here and too much of that is also a health problem.....

Neither I nor them (boys aged 5 and 10) have any tooth decay.

[Dr. Phil]

In the morning when we wake up there is a lot of bacteria in the mouth which has built up over night and this reacts with breakfast (sugars) to attack the teeth. Brushing before breakfast removes this bacteria and prevents the formation of acids.
The mouth also tastes better and so does the food.

Brushing immediately after a meal can damage the teeth. You must wait for at least one hour.
Acidic foods and drinks, such as oranges, grapefruit and fruit juices that are often eaten at breakfast time, soften the enamel on your teeth and by brushing immediately after breakfast, this wears the enamel away, and can cause dental erosion.

The saliva levels in your mouth are highest immediately after a meal and saliva neutralises the acidity and restores the natural balance but this can take up to one hour so do not clean your teeth immediately after a meal, wait about one hour.

Some tips:

Brush teeth before breakfast
Wait one hour after a meal (or drink) before brushing
Use a straw when drinking acidic drinks to reduce contact with teeth
Drink water and milk between meals in preference to juice and soda drinks
Chew sugar-free gum - this will produce more saliva to help neutralise acid
Finish a meal with cheese or milk to help neutralise any acids

[Itsgenetic]

I think weak teeth are genetic.  My tips are manuka honey, it kills bad bacteria in your mouth, you can even put a spoonfull in your mouth before bed time. Butter, whole milk, yoghurt and cheese. If you want to get really serious buy some high vitamin butter oil.

[Flouride level]

Also, the dentist says start your child on adult toothpaste as soon as possible.  That
kids stuff is useless and does not toughen the enamel.

Just a warning for new parents....

Ciao

Toothpaste doesn't "toughen enamel." It sounds like you need to find a new dentist.

Do the research.....ask your dentist...you will see

[Dr. Phil]

I think weak teeth are genetic.  My tips are manuka honey, it kills bad bacteria in your mouth, you can even put a spoonfull in your mouth before bed time. Butter, whole milk, yoghurt and cheese. If you want to get really serious buy some high vitamin butter oil.

I take less than one half teaspoon at night and first thing in the morning. It cures sore throats and has a lot of health benefits as you say. Manuka honey is quite special and comes from New Zealand. It is used today in some hospitals as a topical treatment for burns. So if you need to treat burns however serious, if you have Manuka honey available slap it on, it will ease the pain and reduce scarring.

[bee aware]

My mum got rid of ulcers on her legs by putting Manuka Honey on them and wrapping them up.  It's a 'super-food'.

[meow]

I think weak teeth are genetic.  My tips are manuka honey, it kills bad bacteria in your mouth, you can even put a spoonfull in your mouth before bed time. Butter, whole milk, yoghurt and cheese. If you want to get really serious buy some high vitamin butter oil.

I take less than one half teaspoon at night and first thing in the morning. It cures sore throats and has a lot of health benefits as you say. Manuka honey is quite special and comes from New Zealand. It is used today in some hospitals as a topical treatment for burns. So if you need to treat burns however serious, if you have Manuka honey available slap it on, it will ease the pain and reduce scarring.

To Dr. Phil

Is Manuka honey good for wounds following laser surgery as well?  I've had a basal cell carcinoma removed from my arm and it still hurts after a week and a half.  After the doc clears it on Wednesday and it heals a bit more, maybe I can try this?  Are you a real doctor?  your tips on teeth care were very interestinghelpful.

[Dr. Phil]

I think weak teeth are genetic.  My tips are manuka honey, it kills bad bacteria in your mouth, you can even put a spoonfull in your mouth before bed time. Butter, whole milk, yoghurt and cheese. If you want to get really serious buy some high vitamin butter oil.

I take less than one half teaspoon at night and first thing in the morning. It cures sore throats and has a lot of health benefits as you say. Manuka honey is quite special and comes from New Zealand. It is used today in some hospitals as a topical treatment for burns. So if you need to treat burns however serious, if you have Manuka honey available slap it on, it will ease the pain and reduce scarring.

To Dr. Phil

Is Manuka honey good for wounds following laser surgery as well?  I've had a basal cell carcinoma removed from my arm and it still hurts after a week and a half.  After the doc clears it on Wednesday and it heals a bit more, maybe I can try this?  Are you a real doctor?  your tips on teeth care were very interestinghelpful.

No I'm not a medical doctor and you can google Manuka honey it is used by National Health Service in UK for burns and has many proven qualities.
If you try it, it certainly won't do any harm.
Talk to your doctor it may prove beneficial right away if used sparingly. It is free of water and this helps destroy bacteria so it should be suitable for those who have recent surgery.

[medical or otherwise]

I think weak teeth are genetic.  My tips are manuka honey, it kills bad bacteria in your mouth, you can even put a spoonfull in your mouth before bed time. Butter, whole milk, yoghurt and cheese. If you want to get really serious buy some high vitamin butter oil.

I take less than one half teaspoon at night and first thing in the morning. It cures sore throats and has a lot of health benefits as you say. Manuka honey is quite special and comes from New Zealand. It is used today in some hospitals as a topical treatment for burns. So if you need to treat burns however serious, if you have Manuka honey available slap it on, it will ease the pain and reduce scarring.

To Dr. Phil

Is Manuka honey good for wounds following laser surgery as well?  I've had a basal cell carcinoma removed from my arm and it still hurts after a week and a half.  After the doc clears it on Wednesday and it heals a bit more, maybe I can try this?  Are you a real doctor?  your tips on teeth care were very interestinghelpful.

No I'm not a medical doctor and you can google Manuka honey it is used by National Health Service in UK for burns and has many proven qualities.
If you try it, it certainly won't do any harm.
Talk to your doctor it may prove beneficial right away if used sparingly. It is free of water and this helps destroy bacteria so it should be suitable for those who have recent surgery.

Are you any kind of official doctor?

[Dr. Phil]

Perhaps I'm a bee-keeper?

[And perhaps...]

Perhaps I'm a bee-keeper?

You're just a fraud who regularly makes himself look silly on this board?