Am I a bad mother?

Question

My 10 year old daughter has had teeth problems since she was 2 years old. I probably could have prevented it but there is nothing I can do it about it now. I just flossed my daughters teeth and I just noticed she has 2 new cavities.(I hope they are her baby teeth) I am so upset by this. I just got their insurance straight so I am calling first thing tomorrow to make a appt. Do I look like a bad mother?

Answer 1

None of us can change the past, they write it in books, make movies, talk about it, and hopefully.....we ALL learn from it. Today is a clean slate and you can change the outcome, you have that power. No one will judge you, most dental professionals try to fix the problem and are thankful that you are here wanting to make things better, not lay blame on what happened before today. Some times as parents we are our worst critics, cheer up we all do it. :o)

Answer 2

Hold on a second. First of all, how could you have prevented a problem with your daughters teeth? I dont think that would be possible; you're being too hard on yourself.

But your daughter is ten years old, why are you flossing her teeth? Shouldn't she be responsible for that by now.

Regular trips to the dentists, braces, maybe some flouride treatments to help prevent against cavities. That's really all you can do.

To answer your question I would need more information, but thats ok. I am guessing you are a good mother, because a bad mother wouldnt set up dentist appointments, they wouldnt have insurance to cover their families health needs, and they probably wouldnt have given any thought about parenting.

Answer 3

As a mother and a dentist, we blame ourselves for entirely too much. Sure, it would have been great not to have cavities and you'll have yet another thing to feel guilty about. Did you see a dentist at all yourself in the 10 years after the birth of your daughter? I find many dentists fail to give accurate, useful information to parents regarding their kid's teeth. I came from a poor family an spent plenty of time in the dental chair ( I think I had at least 12-14 cavities). My mom may have felt guilty(I'll ask her...it never occured to me that she might've felt like a bad mother), but it motivated me to take better care of my teeth. I've used my experiences as empathy training. I sure hope your daughter's dentist will spend some time teaching her how to properly care for her teeth. She's old enough to make choices and take responsibility for them...but not with out good information.
Save the guilt for something else (no doubt there'll be plenty more!! : - )

Answer 4

Hi,

I disagree with the 'bad mom' answers... a 'bad' mother would have noticed what looked to be like cavities and just ignored the fact.... you're doing something about it.

I don't know many parents who take the time to floss thier kids' teeth: Good Mom Point #2 for you.

You won't know, until she has an exam and some 'check-up- xrays, if what you see are indeed cavities...

Call your dentist and make the appointment.. and don't listen to those who live in glass houses.

Best of luck~

Answer 5

I've had similar issues, though not exactly the same. Please please don't listen to anyone who answers your question - at all. If you are at the point where you are getting it fixed, where you are getting the insurance straight and making appointments, then you are where you need to be now. Now is what matters. Fix it and move on! Become the mom you want to be, don't wallow in the sadness of what could have been, and certainly don't allow yourself to be drawn back to that point by negative thoughts and energies. Focus on becoming the mom you want to be, not on defining the kind of mom you were prior to today - and that goes for EVERY day!
Blessed Be!

Answer 6

that's as much as you techniques you advance your toddler. What ever your gut tells you,then do it. a undesirable mom is somebody who would not feed their youngsters,somebody who beats their youngsters,somebody who would not care. a competent mom is somebody who loves their youngsters,who cares approximately them,who makes particular they have each and every thing they want MOMMY TO ANGELBABY: So if somebody would be unable to have the money for form new stuff for their toddler and use stuff from different those this continues to be fit they're undesirable mothers? If a mom has to flow to artwork to assist her kinfolk and ensure her kinfolk has what they want,they seem to be a undesirable mom? If a mom has to apply WIC or foodstamps,through fact she will't have the money for to no longer,they seem to be a undesirable mom??in case you verify your toddler is fed,you're a undesirable mom? as long through fact the toddler isn't hungry then what's the deal? in case you feed your toddler in public you're a undesirable mom?? so which you like the toddler to flow hungry? If a mom takes her toddler in public in the previous he/she is six weeks she's a undesirable mom? So the mummy is assume to hire a sitter for 5 minutes mutually as you get diapers? you're a undesirable mom in case you permit your toddler cry for a couple of minutes? that's good to enable them to,through fact it helps their lungs. you're a undesirable mom in case you feed toddler solids decrease than 6 months? healthcare expert reccomends it at 4months.i would be unable to belive you certainly stated that. you think of you're a suited mom do no longer you? information flash darlin' there are no longer any suited mothers yet they're are good ones

Answer 7

No kids get bad teeth all the time...

only thing is if kids have bad baby teeth they can get bad adult teeth aswell so you'll just have to keep a eye on her & make sure she brushes them properly

Answer 8

Well making sure she brushes and flosses every night from here on out. Making sure cleanings every 6 months. Check ups. Do that and your being concerned with your children's dental health. Don't focus on woulda, coulda, shoulda,

Answer 9

Not fixing the problem knowing it's there would make you a bad mother, but since you are doing something about it then you're not.

Answer 10

JENNIFER,
THIS IS VERY SIMPLE TO ANSWER. YOU DID WHAT YOU DID BECAUSE THAT'S ALL YOU KNEW TO DO.
WHEN YOU KNEW BETTER, YOU DID BETTER.
DON'T BEAT YOURSELF UP OVER THIS.