Holy Molar!

Originally published in the Syracuse Islander on June 21, 2011

I fight a battle each night at our bathroom counter.  It’s me versus my kids; toothbrush versus clenched jaw. I hate to admit it, but there have been times the fight escalated to a toddler pinned on the floor while his teeth got a good scrubbing. I loose a battle sometimes, but I thought my husband and I were still winning the war.  I thought wrong.

I optimistically took the kids (the ones with teeth anyway) to the dentist for their six-month cleaning.  They did so well and were much braver than our previous visit.  Little did I know I would soon be the one having the melt down. 

The dentist walked in with the news.  Shock and awe.  Between the two of them they had ten cavities!  Ten cavities in six months.  You have got to be kidding me!  Please be kidding me!  Am I really that bad of a parent?  I swear we brush teeth at our house.  The dentist smiled and nodded.  I’m not sure he believed me.  I could show him the battle wounds.

Eight of those cavities reside in my three-year-old son’s molars.  If I ever do loose a tooth-brushing battle, it’s usually to him.  I fight hard though.  His teeth are worth fighting for.  Someone needs to stick up for them because he’s not doing them any favors.  He’s addicted to candy.  Sugar really.  I’ve had to put a lock on the pantry to keep him out.  I’ve even caught him eating sugar right out of the canister!

It doesn’t help that his second love is apple juice.  All day long, sometimes even in the middle of the night.  I’m beginning to realize I may have lost his tooth battle well before we ever got to the bathroom counter.  How did I let it get this bad?  How did I let his teeth rot out of his head?  Bad enamel runs in the family.  Can I blame it on that?

Without dental insurance and already feeling sick to my stomach, I walked up to the receptionist to go over the dental plan and price tag to fill those cavities.  She showed me the bottom line.  I blinked and took a deep breath.  I’m sure I lost all color in my face.  For a brief moment I thought to myself, “they’re just baby teeth, they’ll fall out anyway.” I’m sure I could take the whole family to Disneyland for the pretty penny it’s going to cost to fill those cavities.  I’d much rather go to Disneyland. 

Ten fillings and one cap later, their teeth are solid again.  Our rules have changed.  Our sugar lover enjoys more sugar-free treats and drinks less juice.  We still fight to brush teeth twice a day and fight to floss too.  Only now he doesn’t fight so hard.  I’ve got a new weapon in this war.  After getting eight cavities filled, he would have preferred a trip to Disneyland too.   Maybe next year, if he brushes.