Dentist shares surprising video admission nobody saw coming

“Although no one shamed me, I shamed myself.”

Whenever I have a dentist appointment locked in, you best believe I brush, floss and mouthwash my teeth twice as long and for three times more diligently than I normally do.

I guess it’s in hopes of disguising the fact I absolutely hate flossing and haven’t done it since the last appointment six months earlier.

However, my dentist isn’t easily fooled. 

He will peer over his glasses and ask when I last flossed.

“I know, I know!” I muffle back.

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As enjoyable as waxing your legs

I know he doesn’t do it on purpose; heck, the guy just wants me to take care of my teeth, but I still feel a little guilty when I walk out.

Now, I know I’m slacking off in the flossing department, and that’s self-inflicted, so I’ll own it.

But now, with a child of my own, you best believe we’ve already started her oral hygiene routine.

We’ve got the teeny-tiny toothbrush that comes out and thanks to one very handy Wiggles song, she even knows how to brush them herself.

For many parents, however, toddlers and toothbrushes are as enjoyable an activity as waxing your legs, and dentist visits leave them riddled with guilt when they find a dreaded cavity.

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No shame - even for parents

Dr Amrita Sandhu, a pediatric dentist, has taken to TikTok to cut some slack when it comes to kids and their teeth and parents are rejoicing. 

“This is a message for every parent who has been shamed for their kids having cavities,” she says. 

“Here’s a video of me, a dentist, doing fillings on my own child.”

She goes on to say, “I, of course, know how to brush and floss and do all the protective things that we need to do to prevent cavities, but guess what? They still happen. 

“I’m sorry you were shamed and made to feel like a bad parent. We’re all trying our best to keep our little ones happy and healthy, and as we all know, it is such a busy life to live.”

And just when you think this dentist is already an angel in disguise, she offers an apology for the shame parents experience, “Education and awareness is important, of course, but being made out to feel like a horrible parent is definitely not. I’m sorry if this has happened to you,” she says.

The video sits alongside a caption reading, “It breaks my heart when parents come to me with this shame, let’s work together versus bringing people down.”

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If a dentist's kid gets cavities, it's time to ease up on the guilt! Source: tikTok

A round of applause, please!

Parents were quick to jump on the video and express their appreciation for Dr Amrita’s understanding, and several fellow dental professionals even backed her up with their own experiences.

“Now this is the video we needed,” wrote one. 

“Although no one shamed me, I shamed myself,” revealed another. 

“Thank you- I’ve been crying a lot.”

One mum shared a gruelling experience with her daughter, “Thank you for this! My daughter just had her fillings,” she wrote. “When the dentist first saw them, she yelled over to me- “momma, she’s got cavities, come here, look at this, look at this” and shook her head.”

“Dental hygienist here!! My daughter has cavities,” another added. “We are not perfect!”

“Dental assistant of 12 years here” echoed another. “My daughter has needed fillings done in the past, and I'm taking her once more because it needs to be done.”

Some more prone than others

So, what causes cavities? 

Well, According to Children’s Dental Health, it all starts with these bacteria in our mouths, mainly Streptococcus mutans, that really love sugar. 

When we eat sugary food, these bacteria go into overdrive, producing acid that weakens our tooth enamel, which is like the armour protecting our teeth. 

There are many reasons why bacteria go into overdrive, such as how our teeth are shaped, the balance of bacteria in our mouths, and even how much saliva we have and how well our tongue and mouth muscles work. 

Plus, things like crowded teeth, certain meds, and even what we eat can play a part. 

However, some people are just more prone to cavities than others.

A combination of genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors can determine who is more prone to cavities than others.

Genetics influence tooth structure and enamel strength, with those with deep crevices or thin enamel being more susceptible. 

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At what time do people go to the dentist? At tooth-hurty! Source: iStock

How to keep your kids’ teeth healthy

According to NSW Health guidelines, proper dental care for children begins even before their first teeth emerge. 

Parents can clean their baby's gums using a clean, damp cloth and once teeth appear, a child-sized soft toothbrush should be used without toothpaste until 18 months. 

From then on, brushing should occur twice daily with a smear of fluoride toothpaste. 

Children should spit out the toothpaste and not rinse afterwards to enhance fluoride protection.

Healthy eating habits are also crucial, including avoiding putting anything other than breast milk or formula in bottles, promoting water consumption from a cup, and offering nutritious snacks. 

Teething discomfort can be alleviated with cold items, while habits like thumb sucking and dummy use should be monitored. 

Regular dental check-ups, beginning by the first birthday, are also deemed essential.

Originally published as Dentist shares surprising video admission nobody saw coming