Tooth Decay On My 3 Year Old

[Livinginexile]

I work in Dubai and my wife and son stay with the in-laws in Thailand for 1 month out of three.

They all spoil him rotton and basically feed him sweets on demand. Also because he is a toddler, he hates having his teeth cleaned and consequently he has 5 very big cavities.

I have put my foot down on this issue and they have stoped feeding him kanoms. He now allows us to clean his teeth often by making the whole tooth cleaning process fun.

I can't believe this Thai attitude of not caring for their childrens teeth. They sure look after their own teeth when I becomes obvious it will cost them money if they don't!

Anyway...I need a good dentist for my son. They are only his milk teeth but they have to last him another 5 years or so.

Plus if I don't get them fixed soon they will get infected for sure when the cavities reach the nerves....then there will be hel_l to pay

Anyone out there know of a good dentist in Thailand for kids?

Anyone else had the same problem with their kid's teeth?

Any info will be greatly appreciated.

[SomNamNah]

My fans 6 year old has black stained front teeth - luckily milk teeth. Ive been step dad as it were for last 2 years...

The reason was that the older sister (nanny) always gives the kids sweetened milk ( i think soy) before bed. - after teeth brushing.

I have a feeling the milk marketing here in Thailand is to blame. (feed your kids (sweet) milk! the farangs do it, and look how big they are!)

Check to see what the milk diet is. It is shocking how bad the 'western' foods are here.

Still progress is progress

Edited December 6, 2008 by SomNamNah

[Boo]

I don't know any mums in UK who feed their kids sweetened milk, it is either whole fat cows milk or unsweetened formula. But anyway, IMO thais have been messing up their kids teeth long before farang products were available. The western world doesn't have the monopoly on sweet foods & ime thai people stuff their kids full of kanom & sweet juices & are then lax on dental hygiene so hardly think farang influence is to blame. If it were the case they would be eating steaks & potatoes at every meal too

OP where in Thailand are you based? It might help get some local suggestions of dentists but if you are really worried then try one of the larger Bangkok hospitals to get things sorted int he main & I hope for your kids sake that your inlaws & wife now see the error or giving him such sweet food & not brushing his teeth properly.

[JacknDanny]

I work in Dubai and my wife and son stay with the in-laws in Thailand for 1 month out of three.

They all spoil him rotton and basically feed him sweets on demand. Also because he is a toddler, he hates having his teeth cleaned and consequently he has 5 very big cavities.

I have put my foot down on this issue and they have stoped feeding him kanoms. He now allows us to clean his teeth often by making the whole tooth cleaning process fun.

I can't believe this Thai attitude of not caring for their childrens teeth. They sure look after their own teeth when I becomes obvious it will cost them money if they don't!

Anyway...I need a good dentist for my son. They are only his milk teeth but they have to last him another 5 years or so.

Plus if I don't get them fixed soon they will get infected for sure when the cavities reach the nerves....then there will be hel_l to pay

Anyone out there know of a good dentist in Thailand for kids?

Anyone else had the same problem with their kid's teeth?

Any info will be greatly appreciated.

Thantakit Dental hospital on New Phetburi Rd have a specialist pediatric dentist and kids department.

I take my 7 yr old there. No complaints

[dumball]

My fans 6 year old has black stained front teeth - luckily milk teeth. Ive been step dad as it were for last 2 years...

The reason was that the older sister (nanny) always gives the kids sweetened milk ( i think soy) before bed. - after teeth brushing.

I have a feeling the milk marketing here in Thailand is to blame. (feed your kids (sweet) milk! the farangs do it, and look how big they are!)

Check to see what the milk diet is. It is shocking how bad the 'western' foods are here.

Still progress is progress

Nothing wrong with western food 'IF' they were educated on what to feed a child , check what Thais put in almost ALL of there cooking , sugar and salt , even in the bread . Nothing wrong with soy milk , in fact it has certain health benifits , if , as you say, you are a step dad , do the child some good by checking what is healthy for a child instead of the usual 'Finger pointing ' . it will be rather difficult to change the old habits though , many Thais already know it all , yes , learned from over a hundred years of 'Same same " teaching .Big foreigners do not result from canned anything , but more a healthy diet of wholesome food , not just the ever constant rice with something , why do you think Thais are stunted in growth ? lack of a diet full of vitamins and protien , read a little and hopefully learn a lot . Not knocking Thais , they cannot be blamed for their ignorance , it is an almost total lack of a decent education .

[misterman21]

Try being responsible for your childs welfare - should solve the problem!

Wether or not your child enjoys having their teeth cleaned is not the issue - it is your responsibilty to have them cleaned.

Reminds me of the docile parents who say - my child doesn't like vegetables so I can't force feed them!

Edited December 6, 2008 by misterman21

[dumball]

"Also as a toddler he hates having his teeth cleaned ", my my how you have assimilated the Thai way of (not) rearing a child .As soon as a child can stand is the time training starts in most aspects of his life , the most important being self discipline , at 3 years of age he should be cleaning his own teeth as set by both instruction and example , the later of paramount neccessity , It is useless trying to teach a child by rote , example by his parent and siblings are by far the best methology .You have a difficult task at hand sir , child discipline seems to be a thing almost unheard of in Thai society , much discussed on TV .It has been said by too many wanabees on this forum that Thais love their chidren , what you have written totaly disproves this way of thinking or your child would not be in the despicable situation he is in with his teeth .Put your foot down with a firm hand or this will not be the least of your concerns in the future , it will be useless to try to explain this to family , you have to enfatically tell them what is required in respect to YOUR child .

Wishing you the best in your endeavors , i am in respect , a concerned humanitarian in the welfare of children .

[SomNamNah]

Nothing wrong with western food 'IF' they were educated on what to feed a child , check what Thais put in almost ALL of there cooking , sugar and salt , even in the bread .

Agree boo, soy is better than dairy. Although it GM. I know the west wouldnt add sugar, here they DO, and maybe you are right about the farang influence.

I do wonder why people take it so seriously when i slag off western diets! haha! how anyone can justify this statement nowadays I dont know, maybe they can afford the prices of vegetables in the west now!

Dont get me wrong, the western diet of fried/oven roast lumps of flesh out of a freezer bags will do the trick.. but it aint what i call 'food'

I have actually done research on this, having been into health food since childhood (rice- fish- veg- soy etc) and as a consequently built like a brick ****house. My relation (Dr,. MA, BM, Bch, FACN) is also the worlds foremost authority on Nutritional Medicine. Harley street clinic and all... PM me if you need details. OZ/UK.

If you will permit me to defend myself: The price of healthy food in the UK is incredibly high. Vegetables are probably the most expensive items nowadays! From what i have seen here in Thailand, i cannot think of ONE SINGLE western foodstuff that is better for them?

Bread - no way, pesticides, low nutritional value (esp white! never seen brown on the stalls) - monocultured crap. tasty though.

Cheese - come on, tasty as hel_l, but not good for you. Hormones, fat, salt

Milk - no way, ditto.

Soy - hmm.. GM, good nutrional value, but the sugar mafia are in town..

Refined sugar - nuff said.

Salt instead of Fish sauce.. no contest, white poison.

7 - 11 is the work of SATAN bwahahaa!

The Thai diet rocks! apart from the hygiene aspect..

Ask mrs Fujitsu at 95 years old! MONOCULTURE and the western diet (factory --> supermarket) have DESTROYED vast areas of the planet! Long live sustainable eastern diets!

Thais just need more quantity, the quality is just fine!! (even if some of the Green slop does stink!!! )

Edited December 6, 2008 by SomNamNah

[dumball]

Please re-read your post , there are several mistakes and myths about 'a proper' western diet and those stated , a good asian or primative diet is excellant , but that is not what many Thais eat .

[marshbags]

OP where in Thailand are you based? It might help get some local suggestions of dentists but if you are really worried then try one of the larger Bangkok hospitals to get things sorted int he main & I hope for your kids sake that your inlaws & wife now see the error or giving him such sweet food & not brushing his teeth properly.

Does the baby have a dummy / pacifier and if so this could add to your problems, especially for the front teeth, to the wisdom ones.

If so better to wean them off it, or at least not put sweeteners are other stuff that can cause decay.

The good thing is that most Thai seem to have very healthy teeth as they get a bit older and tend to keep them as they grow into old age.

Cleaning them after meals is also a good habit to get into, especially at an early age.

marshbags

Apologies if this comes across as stating the obvious or trying to tell an old hand ect.

Edited December 6, 2008 by marshbags

[SomNamNah]

but that is not what many Thais eat .

precisely... the farang model.. mass production of processed (profitable) <deleted>!

Maybe its an American model, being part russian/greek/french i have experienced 'healthy' farang diets- you are right, the Thais seem to be apeing the US/UK diets. doomed....

anyway back to nippers teeth...

Being just a step dad, i have tried to educated the Mrs about some western foods, but it looks like a losing battle. White refined bread, and sweet soy milk seem to be the done thing, the lady who peddles it in the markets here almost has an air of saintliness around her... its for the kids...ahhh sweeet..

I have started the kid on skin whitening cream already though. Cant have him looking like he works in the fields!

Edited December 6, 2008 by SomNamNah

[Goinghomesoon]

DC One Clinic (search the net, they have a website) in Yen Akart Rd is really great. They have special kid-sized chairs and a space ship on the ceiling as well as lots of toys which they let the kids hug when their teeth are being checked. All the dentists speak English. First time in her life my 10 year old has ever enjoyed going for dental work.

[Jared]

So Im not the only one whos Thai side of the family constantly feed there son sweets and pepsi. Hes only 2 and when hes with me I always make sure he brushes his teeth in the morning and at night when he showers and he also brushes them once or twice at nursery i think after lunch. It doesn't matter how many times i tell them, dont feed him any pepsi or snacks from 7/11 every time I got to get him hes got chocolate round his lips, boiled sweets in his pocket and stuck to his clothes, covered in crisp crumbs, pepsi stains down his top. The wifes retarded brother even brought him a pack of chewing gum to eat, what a f*"king retard. My wifes just as bad, any little stop at 7/11 to get some tissues, water etc she cant but help grab some kind of snack, drives me crazy.

[SomNamNah]

I did some research tonight... its not mainly sweet soy milk that they are shoving down the kids necks.. its

dutch mill sweet yoghurt... yum....a Thai company.

looked on back 8% sugar, didnt see fat content... and considering the Asian genes are lactose intolerant too! arrghh!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactose_intolerance

"The frequency of decreased lactase activity ranges from nearly 5% in northern Europe to more than 90% in some Asian and African countries"

however the thai dentists have given it the green light... from the acid point of view.

http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pi...300571205001223

Edited December 6, 2008 by SomNamNah

[colino]

I think most of the problem starts when they are babys , mothers letting them go to sleep with a milk bottle is not good and

proping a bottle up with a towel as so the mum can go back to sleep is a very bad habit as well,

the lactoes in the milk drips on to the new teeth and will start the decay, then follow this up with sweets , sweet milk , suger with fruit, suger with food, fizzy pop,

that is why Thailand has a very high rate of child tooth decay i see it every day at school,

if your child does not brush thier teeth then atleast get them to swill or drink water after milk .

when i asked about this to a health teacher she amazed me with the reply oh they are just baby teeth and most adults dont eat sweets so they eat them while young , ,,, amazing Thailand

colino

[Livinginexile]

DC One Clinic (search the net, they have a website) in Yen Akart Rd is really great. They have special kid-sized chairs and a space ship on the ceiling as well as lots of toys which they let the kids hug when their teeth are being checked. All the dentists speak English. First time in her life my 10 year old has ever enjoyed going for dental work.

Thanks for that info Goinghome.

We will be back in Bangkok next week so I will book him for an apointment.

Thanks to everyone else that has responded to my post but I want to make one thing absolutely clear...My son is very much loved, a little too much by the in-laws and yes they were putting him to sleep at night with a bottle of sweet milk.

The decay took hold so quick and because of my job (where I am away for upto 2 mths at a time) I wasn\t around all the time to make sure his teeth were cleaned everyday.

Like I stated in my OP, we clean his teeth twice a day now and the sweets and sweet milk has stoped (except for treats).

I am NOT looking forward to his dental visit, it is going to be traumatic for everyone.

Anyway thanks again all.

I'll keep you all updated after his first visit.

[Boo]

hope all gets sorted out as stressfree as possible. My dentist told me that I should just start bringing my son in for appointments at around 2 just so he can sit int he chair, play with the toys & generally get used to the dentist & having the instruments put in his mouth without actually doing anything before ever needing some treatment to minimise trauma, so you may want to bear that in mind if your son gets distressed although I am sure it will be fine, goinghomesoons place sounds really great.

[torrenova]

My dentist also suggested getting our daughter involved from about 2 years old. My missus had her first visit to a dentist at age 22, when with me. She sees th need now but she required 8 minor fillings and about 15k worth of work !

[So1DoG]

My 2.5 year old daughter is at the dentist as we speak with her mum.

Top 4 front teeth decaying, Mum keeps saying dont worry she will have new teeth soon? What when she is 6? maybe she wont even get them if she loses her milk teeth soon.

Same things in above posts her freinds feed her pepsi, sweets etc.

When my daughter first moved to thailand she lost her appetite and didnt eat well for the first month so my wife when and bought some scotts emulsion with vitimins which had sugars in it, she was giving her to much everyday day and night.

She also stopped drinking milk and now only drinks dutch milk.

What can we give her?

These could all be reasons as well as she doesnt like her teeth brushed but now i make sure i brush my teeth with her and get her to copy me and we have great fun.

Im not just blaming my wife and her freinds i am too blame to i must admit i have give her sweet things to but for sure this will all change now.

We have also stopped giving her a bottle at night and when she is thristy she drinks through a straw.

Anyway im hoping there is something they can do today or very soon at the dentist as its a very worrying time for all.

Edited December 10, 2008 by So1DoG

[SomNamNah]

now only drinks dutch milk

look on the back soidog, 8% sugar!

there is the problem... its poison for kids in short. (yes my stepson still drinks it - they also are waiting for the adult teeth to come! <deleted>)

I did see the newest kid in the clan munching happily on a cucumber the other day, i suspect cheaper than sweets/junk food. So that was nice.

There must be alternatives to Dutch mill. If it has aspartame ie: no sugar, its also poison.

Its a tough battle, Dutch mill is everywhere.- drinking yoghurt etc, milk.. yuk.

If its protein the Thais think they are giving the kids, there are masses of better options, but maybe not cheaper or available.

I think the ozzies have rice milk that isnt saturated in sugar, it being naturally sweet:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_milk

gawd knows... if the family here keep feeding him sugar water after his adult teeth appear ( he has just one now - that he brushes religiously) then i will try some 're-education'

Edited December 10, 2008 by SomNamNah

[SomNamNah]

here we go:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kokkoh

Kokkoh is a rice milk of Thai origin. Brown rice is its primary and sometimes its only solid ingredient. Many kokkoh dishes, however, have other rices and seasonings, most commonly sweet rice, azuki bean, sesame, barley, and kombu.

[edit] Preparation

Broadly speaking, the term "kokkoh" may be applied to any dish in which cereals are diluted in water. However, the rice dish discussed here is by far the most common form.

No matter which cereals are used in a kokkoh recipe, preparation is similar and simple. The cereals are soaked in water for two to three hours. Additional water is then added, and the mixture boiled or pressure cooked to completion. In some cases, the cereals are roasted in sesame oil before cooking takes place.

[edit] Uses

Kokkoh is recommended as both a substitute for mother's milk and a means of weaning infants from it. (In the former case the recipe often calls only for brown rice ground to a fine powder and water.) Besides its soft and easily digestible texture, kokkoh is recommended as such because its mixture has a high and varied protein content; combined, the amino acids in each of the ingredients described at the outset include virtually all those needed for consumption. It is thus especially well suited for the growth needs of a child. When used solely for weaning, it is recommended that kokkoh be introduced at between 8 months and a year of age. It may be used as breast milk substitute as early as five months, but with a larger proportion of water, in order to further dilute the mixture.

Kokkoh is also an important part of the macrobiotic diet, in accordance with the diet's heavy emphasis upon grains. Along with its use as a means of weaning, kokkoh is a common breakfast food among macrobiotic eaters of all ages.

Kokkoh is also the name of a town in Thailand.

Edited December 10, 2008 by SomNamNah

[So1DoG]

Yes your right 8% sugar in dutch milk she likes to drink a fair amount but now via straw not bottle.

So whats a alternative? she doesnt drink plain milk, she just simply went off it??

There most be something out there on sale in thailand?

Edited December 10, 2008 by So1DoG

[Boo]

If babies here don't like normal milk child health profs here suggest using Vanilla extract. Not vanilla flavouring as that too is just pure sugar. A coupe of drops will sweten the milk enoguh for kids to drink but not enough to damage teeth apparently. Luckily my son has never had a problem, he was on a god awful hydrogenated formula to removal all milk protein as he is lactose intolerant so when we switched him to unsweetened alpro soy soya milk he thought it was his lucky day

[chiangmaibruce]

Ok well someone is bound to go off at me about this but .... fluoride has not been mentioned as one line of defence.

you can get this in tablet form in thailand suitable for infants. Not in every pharmacy for sure, but I found Zymafluor 1/4mg tabs imported by Novartis. one tab a day dissolved in water used with milk formula or plain.

a little expensive (can't remember exactly sorry) but I have a tip for you. In some places in Australia where they don't put fluoride in the water the local councils provide free fluoride tablets (distributed via health centres, libraries, etc). So last time I went back I stocked up. These were 1 mg tabs - too big for an infant but you can just break them into 2-3 pieces and it's fine. This might also be the case in some other countries (?)

- CB

[So1DoG]

Yes CB we have some of them, They are relatively cheap in thailand from what i remember.

[SomNamNah]

just remembered what i used to drink when i went through my teenage 'body building' phase.. (and no.. im not still as fit now)

bet kids would love it! - sounds nasty but its soooo nice and healthy.

uht semi skimmed milk

banana

2 raw egg whites/one egg yolk

drop of vanilla essence

sprinkle of cinnamon

some wheatgerm

blob of honey

blend in blender... yummmmm!

the good old days before i discovered beer and beer bellies

Edited December 10, 2008 by SomNamNah

[whiterussian]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_fluoridation_opposition

Use throughout the world Main article: Fluoridation by countryWater fluoridation is used in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, and a handful of other countries. The following developed nations previously fluoridated their water, but stopped the practice, with the years when water fluoridation started and stopped in parentheses:

• German Federal Republic (1952-1971)
  
• Sweden (1952-1971)
  
• Netherlands (1953-1976)
  
• Czechoslovakia (1955-1990)
  
• German Democratic Republic (1959-1990)
  
• Soviet Union (1960-1990)
  
• Finland (1959-1993)
  
• Japan (1952-1972)^{[citation needed]}
  

Process for calcium fluoride production from industrial waste ...A process for the preparation of calcium fluoride from industrial waste waters

Soldiers For The Truth • View topic - Video: Depleted Uranium and ... 8 posts - Last post: 9 Apr 2007U-236 is a by-product of depleted Uranium, an industrial waste product. It is also the tell-tale sign of inhaled exposure to DU dust

same same but different... $$$$$$$$$

Edited December 22, 2008 by UKWEBPRO

[whiterussian]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11...-tap-water.html

Orange drinks with 300 times more pesticide than tap water

By Sean Poulter

Last updated at 12:53 AM on 05th January 2009

Comments (59) Add to My Stories Fizzy drinks sold by Coca-Cola in Britain have been found to contain pesticides at up to 300 times the level allowed in tap or bottled water.

A worldwide study found pesticide levels in orange and lemon drinks sold under the Fanta brand, which is popular with children, were at their highest in the UK.

The research team called on the Government, the industry and the company to act to remove the chemicals and called for new safety standards to regulate the soft drinks market.