Strong Bones, Strong Teeth (photo needed)

 Jayden recently had his first dentist appointment. We were concerned about his two front teeth because it looked like the enamel didn't form directly. The last dentist, when we were at Kasdyn's last appointment, had confirmed that Jayden’s enamel likely didn't form properly and it would be vulnerable to cavities.


[katria add photo of jayden here]


Well, I didn't realize the implications of that until we went to the dentist last week and they said that those areas had indeed cavitized and he would have to get fillings sometime in the future. I hadn't realized that this would mean he would be put under and have the procedure at a surgery center instead of a regular dentist office. 


This sent me down a path of online research and writing about the risks of toddlers and young children going under. Most popular articles claimed that one time wouldn't pose a risk, although repeated times it extended time unconscious would pose a risk. However, once I got into reading scientific journals, I became more concerned that going under even one time at such a young age can be less than ideal. According to this meta analysis, 7 different studies found that a single instance of sedation can result in changes in cognitive development. That's so scary!


We're going to keep monitoring Jayden's teeth as he gets older (they recommend being at least 2 years old before having the procedure) but meanwhile I'm exploring everyone we can to strengthen his teeth.


Here are some of my findings.


Xylitol was one of the surprising things that helps your teeth. It increases how much you salivate, which allows your saliva to fight the bacteria naturally. 


Xylitol is found in lots of high end natural toothpaste and mouth spray. 



Dr. Berg has a recipe for natural homemade toothpaste you can see in this video:




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