lynn Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 I am in my 40's and have not had any cavities not sure why. Just curious since any new dental assistant is so amazed. My kids, 15, 12, 8, have not had any either. DH has a mouth full. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 I didn't have any cavities until in my 30's. My dentist said that I had strong saliva! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynn Posted April 14, 2008 Author Share Posted April 14, 2008 I didn't have any cavities until in my 30's. My dentist said that I had strong saliva! Hmm, interesting. I always thought it had something to do with enamel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrixieB Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 Funny you should ask, as I just now returned from my dental cleaning/exam where I was informed that I have a cavity in a deep groove in one of my molars -- I've been a patient of this dentist for nearly 20 years and next week he'll be doing his first work on my teeth other than routine exam/cleaning. In my childhood/teens I had a number of fillings, due to very deep grooves in my molars. Nowadays many kids get dental sealants applied to their molars to prevent this type of decay. Some people's teeth are also more prone to decay because of soft enamel or spacing/crowding issues. People who do not floss regularly can get cavities between their teeth. You and your dc are lucky to have avoided cavities! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 It depends on what kind of bacteria have colonized in your mouth. Here's the Merk Manual entry on dental caries. The bacteria, s. mutans is the most common, can be passed from person to person. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixelroper Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 I do not have any either, I was told by several (dentist & doc), it may be I have an acidic ph in my mouth, bacteria do not like this. Dh and dd are not so lucky. Makes you wonder doesn't it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abbeyej Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 I've had one cavity ever. My poor kids seem to have inherited their teeth from dh though -- several really severe cavities already. :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BamaTanya Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 Both parents had false teeth. Mom had full top dentures before age 20. Mom always said we had "chalky" teeth. One of my brothers only had one or two, but the other had several. I thought all the spots in my mouth were filled until I was pg and got 2 more. Ugh. I don't remember having much sugary stuff in the house as a child, either. Of my 5 dc, only 2 have had any cavities. The dentist attributes the difference to fluoridated water and sealants. Of course, they could have better teeth genes from dh. He's only had a couple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 That's funny...it seems like this board is always talking about root canals! But I have a horror of dental work so it might catch my eye. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lauriep Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 My 12 year old daughter doesn't have any yet either. My husband does have a number of fillings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elisabeth in IL Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 I have quite a few cavities, my husband only one or two, my children only one between the three of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nancypants Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 You were genetically blessed. :Angel_anim: My dentist is even impressed that I only have had four in my life. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plaid Dad Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 I had a lot as a child but other than having a few loose fillings replaced and my wisdom teeth removed, I haven't had any significant dental work as an adult. My dentist firmly believes that whether we have good or bad teeth is largely genetic. Barring any really bad habits (e.g., sucking on sugary candies all day), it comes down to luck of the DNA draw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hikin' Mama Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 Neither my dad nor my brother have cavities, and so far my kids are cavity free (10, 13, 16). My mom on the other hand has tons. The dentist told her she has soft enamel, while my dad has hard enamel, and that is why his teeth are much more resistant to cavities. We are pretty good about brushing, but I've eaten my share of candy. :D When I was younger I regularly got up in the middle of the night and ate something sweet, then went back to bed without brushing. I think I just got lucky and got good teeth. Kim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy in Orlando Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 Oh man, my mouth is held together by fillings. Dh has never had a cavity. Go figure - I brush and floss all the time. He never flosses and brushes only because I won't let him into our bed otherwise. Our kids are a mix. I'm so thankful for sealants for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tea 4 Three Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 Nope...but I have to add the disclaimer that my dad is a dentist. :D Growing up, we were his experiments for many new treatments like sealants. He is retiring in a few years and I am panicked already! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newsong Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 Despite my diligent brushing, I had lots of cavities when I was young. Haven't had much as an adult. None of my dc have had cavity troubles thus far. Only our oldest has had a sealant. On a related note, has anyone used white oak bark powder to treat cavities? I have never tried it but ladies on another list I'm on say it really works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinkgumby Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 I'm jealous of those of you with little or no fillings! I had none as a child, a whole bunch as a young adult (silver), and all THOSE are now falling apart and needing to be replaced by crowns! I've had four so far, and need several more! ): Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Atl Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 :iagree: I had a lot as a child but other than having a few loose fillings replaced and my wisdom teeth removed, I haven't had any significant dental work as an adult. My dentist firmly believes that whether we have good or bad teeth is largely genetic. Barring any really bad habits (e.g., sucking on sugary candies all day), it comes down to luck of the DNA draw. My dentist said much the same. My mom had never been to a dentist till her late 20's (raised Christian Scientist) and she had none. I don't think she does to this day (in her mid 60's). My dad has a mouth full of work. I'm in the middle, a good number in the back and two crowns to replace decayed fillings. One dd12 has none so far, while my type-1 dd has a mouth full due to poor/ lacking enamel and all those cake gels and midnight juice runs to get her sugars up as a baby. Ugh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirty ethel rackham Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 4 in my lifetime. 3 in 3rd grade when I missed about 1/4 of the year with rubella that came back 3 times. 1 when I was a freshman in college and I got mono. They seemed to happen when I was severly compromised. My 2 boys have 1 cavity each. (DS14 had one on a tooth that they think was damaged aslightly by the orthodontic appliance. DS11 had one on a malformed tooth when he was a toddler - two teeth shared a root so not enough enamel formed between.) DD is another story - she had 8 or 9 when she was a toddler, but none since. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiddledeedee Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 I'm another mutant with no cavities. My DH on the other hand, he has crowns, has had root canals, fillings, and all sorts of dental torture. I'm grateful beyond measure that I've been blessed with good teeth. I'm terrified of the dentist :scared: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mysticamethyst Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 I am embarrased to say I have horrible teeth. I just had a double root canal, and still have 7 cavites and 2 more root canals to go. I went to the dentist for the first time in my life when I was 18 and joined the AF, didn't go again till this past Jan., I am now 36. I am terrified of the dentist and have to really MAKE myself go. I also just started taking my kids to the dentist, same fear kept me away, thankfully they all have no cavities except for the one that I knew needs braces, she has 2 cavities and will get her braces shortly after that. I will take them each back in 6 mos for the next cleaning and so on. I will be pro active with dental care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jail warden Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 Dh has lots of bad teeth. My ds is not doing so well, but dd has only had one yet. I too have heard a lot about it being genetics. Could be, my mom always had nice teeth until these last few years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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