A Child's Smile- What Every Mom Needs to Know

I have wrestled with whether to blog about this or not but have finally decided to share just for the chance to save one mom and child from having to experience the same thing...

Last week was Hudson's first trip to the dentist- he's 3 1/2. What we hoped would just be a little introduction and a simple check up quickly turned into a parent's worst nightmare. Besides the typical shyness and uncomfortable X-rays Hudson was a champ and was a great patient for his doctor, but the bad news was we had to come back- SOON...Not good!

Tears streamed down my face as the doctor explained what needed to be done to Hudson's teeth to stop any additional damage. As I looked at the computer with the chart of his little teeth and saw all of the fillings and crowns I almost tuned every word out as I began to think to myself why did I wait this long to take him, could I have done something different, this is all my fault...

You see, we had always kept a very close eye on Hud's teeth. His first ones that came in were a little discolored on the bottom and when we asked dental professionals and pediatricians about it they said it was fine that sometimes that happens and could have been bruised before they came it. This made sense to us because when he was just pulling up on anything he could he bumped his mouth on the coffee table (really hard). So, we left it at that, brushed his teeth with the children's tooth paste with fluoride and went on with life.

Then, a couple of months ago when we were brushing his teeth we noticed something just did not look right- there were deep holes that food kept getting stuck in that were not smooth like a tooth usually is and the week that we took him in he had been complaining that his teeth hurt and they were cold.
All of these signs, ignored...I felt was my fault for not seeing there was a real problem to begin with that was evident when his first teeth came in. After calming down and the doctor explaining to me that what was going on with Hudson's teeth is a combination of many factors- genetics, antibiotics taken when he was younger, lack of fluoride (we have well water), etc. This all made sense to me but I still could not get over what they shared with me next...children should have their first visit with the dentist after their FIRST Birthday. That crushed me- everyone I talked to (dental professionals, pediatricians and even read online) advised to schedule their first appointment when they turned 3 years old.

Even now, I still wish that I had just ignored what everyone told me and just went with my gut and taken him in. Two years would have made a huge difference with the health of his teeth- and even though they are only baby teeth, his permanent teeth are developing right now and that could have been two more years he could have been taking the fluoride supplements and developed healthier, stronger teeth. He will have these teeth for the rest of his life- so it's kind of REALLY important!

Tomorrow morning we go in for 3 crowns, 5 fillings and they are cosmetically correcting his front 2 side teeth- all of which just blows me away. I have went my entire life on well water, without any fluoride supplements and have only had one cavity- so, that is a lot for a little boy to have to go through. In total they will work on him for about 3 hours. He will be sedated, but not through an I.V. (which was nice to hear). The procedure is done through a little medicine that is mixed in a drink to relax him and then they will give him just a little gas. He is constantly monitored and conscious the whole time- but I am still scared to death!!! It is neither something that I am looking forward to nor an experience I want him to have. I can only pray that maybe somehow this information will help someone out there avoid something similar happening to them and their little one.

To recap...MOM's PLEASE REMEMBER:
1. Make your child's first dental appointment after their 1st Birthday.
2. Ask about the need for fluoride supplements if you are on well water.
3. Pay attention to the antibiotics- ask about any affects it may have on developing teeth.
4. Follow your gut!
For those of you reading this- please pray for Hudson tomorrow morning (we go in at 8am) for a simple and easy procedure and for healing so he can get back to being a 3yr. old :) I know and trust that God's hand is over Hudson but would really appreciate any additional prayers and support that you can offer- thank you so much!

Also, please share this with any mom that you know- whether they are expecting, have a little one or maybe not a mom yet...just may be planning to have a baby soon.