What could possibly be running through a parents mind when they neglect a child's teeth?

Question

They get booster shots and vaccines, then they let their little teeth go to pot.

Answer 1

Myself, I have always made sure that my son brushed his teeth 2-3 x a day. Even so, when I brought him to the dentist for the first time, I was told that he had 3 cavities (in his baby molar teeth) and that he would need fillings. Because I had numerous infections when I was pregnant and was on antibiotics alot and also himself had ear infection after ear infection since he was 2 months old, his teeth are soft and also discolored. He is very easily susecptible to cavitities. He had one soooo bad that at the age of 4 they had to pull one of his baby molars out. They sealed the teeth that they could at that time, however he still ended up with a total of 6 cavitities in his baby molar teeth.

I NEVER neglected his teeth and even to this day, I remind him every day to brush his teeth and he is now almost 9 years old.

My son get comments from other adults because of his tooth discoloration (it almost looks like plaque build up) asking him if he brushes his teeth. Little do they know that this poor, self conscious kid does brush his teeth everyday like he should and flosses and mouthwash.

I dont think that any parent in their right mind NEGLECTS their childrens teeth, I think that SOMEtimes there are things beyond their control (genetic or not) that cause children to have bad teeth. Such as my son.

Answer 2

Not a clue...my friend/room mate is doing this to her child as well. But heck if I'm gonna say anything.

Answer 3

I would never do that...I would never let my kids have bad teeth...that leads to bad health and social problems...

Answer 4

My husband and I don't have health or dental right now, so we can't go unless it is absolutely necessary.  Even then it is hard to pay for it.

Insurance cost needs to be brought down...not up like it always is.  People like us - my husband works hard at a great job - don't make enough to get insurance.

We had to choose between being able to afford groceries and paying for insurance....we chose groceries.

So, when we do get insurance, we will get our son (22 months) into the dentist for checkups and such.  Our teeth have been neglected as well.  The most about of times I have been to a dentist in the past 3 years?  Only 2.  And they were to get a tooth pulled at each time.

I have terrible teeth anyways....I have little or no enamel.  It sucks and I hope our children have better teeth, like their dad.

Anyways, there ya go.

:-)

We have no intention on just neglecting our child's health and dental care when we get insurance.  But right now, it's not really an option.

Answer 5

1. They figure that baby teeth will be lost anyway, so it isn't that important.

2. They have health insurance/medical coverage that covers medical care, but have no dental coverage so they can't afford regular visits.

3. They are dental phobic themselves, so don't have a dentist or rarely go.

4. They assume that the pediatrician will tell them if there are problems with babies teeth.

I'm sure there are other reasons as well.

Answer 6

Speaking as a mum in the UK, I can't get any dentist to accept me OR my children so I don't have much choice short of making sure they brush twice a day! There are no NHS dentists in the area so i'm kind of stuck until they open up their books again. I phone on a regular basis and i'm on a back up list thing for one in town but that's about all I can do!

Answer 7

It could be any number of things. The parents may be too poor to afford to take their kids to the dentist. They could have clinical depression, substance abuse issues, or some other mental disorder that makes them indifferent to everything around them (including their children). They could also be extremely uneducated. Anything's possible.

Answer 8

Some are just lazy and don't care. They probably think they will just fall out anyway. Some might not take of their own teeth and do the same with their kids. Some might not have dental insurance.

But don't you just hate to see kids with silver caps in their mouths.

Answer 9

A lot of people can not afford dental care for themselves or their children.  

Answer 10

I wonder the same thing. I think they think that because they are baby teeth they don't have to care because they are going to fall out but it's like you want to teach them to care for their teeth when they are young so when they are older it's second nature. my dad was a stickler for good teeth because he didn't care when he was younger he had to have teeth pulled and stuff and he didn't want that for me and my siblings I have never had a cavity and I am doing the same for my daughter.

Answer 11

Medicaid covers dental care so that's not an excuse, in my state at least. It's ignorant people that don't care about their children's health. It's no secret brushing your kids teeth keeps them clean. Kid's teeth fall out naturally they arent meant to rot out and damage the adult teeth. How can a child eat right if it hurts to eat? It's child neglect. I'm sure the bottles of soda arent helping it though.

You can normally tell when a child has tooth discoloration or decay. My teeth had light brown spots b/c my mother had a really high fever and such while I was forming and you could tell it wasnt decay. If someone is that ignorant they can't tell the difference they need help

Answer 12

Lazy terrible     parents of course...bd