Yeah, I’ve heard that too—babies can get cavities super early, which honestly blew my mind. I used to think brushing and flossing was the magic fix, but genetics really do play a part. My brother and I have totally different experiences with cavities even though we grew up with the same habits. It’s kind of wild how much is out of your control sometimes.
Not gonna lie, I used to think baby teeth were like those cheap sunglasses you buy at the gas station—meant to be temporary, so who cares if they get a little banged up, right? Turns out, not so much. My cousin’s little girl had to get a tiny filling before she could even say “toothbrush,” which just seems unfair on every level.
But I kinda want to push back a bit on the idea that it’s all genetics. I mean, sure, some people win the dental lottery and get enamel that’s basically superhero-level strong. Meanwhile, I swear my teeth start plotting against me every time I walk past a candy aisle. Still, I’ve seen friends who were super strict with their brushing and diet and their kids still ended up with cavities, but then there’s my uncle who basically lived on soda as a kid and somehow never had a single cavity until his 30s. It makes you wonder if there’s some secret sauce we’re all missing.
That said, I do think habits count for more than we give them credit for. My mom was obsessed with wiping our gums with those little finger brushes before we even had teeth—she’d chase us around like it was the Olympics of oral hygiene. Maybe that helped? Or maybe we were just too terrified to eat candy after that...
Anyway, it’s wild how much luck is involved, but I wouldn’t throw in the towel on brushing and flossing just yet. Even if genetics deals you a rough hand, at least you’re not making it easier for those sneaky sugar bugs. And hey, if nothing else, you’ll have fresh breath—which is more than I can say for my dog after he raids the cat food bowl.
Honestly, I used to think baby teeth were just placeholders too—like who cares, they’re gonna fall out anyway, right? But my wallet definitely cared when my kid got a cavity at age two. The dentist bill was not “baby-sized,” let me tell you. I do wonder about the whole genetics vs. habits thing though. My brother and I ate the same stuff growing up, but he’s never had a filling and I feel like I’m always in the dentist’s chair. Guess it’s a mix, but brushing and flossing can’t hurt... unless you’re buying those fancy flosses, then it kinda hurts your budget too.
Can definitely relate to the wallet pain. My daughter had her first tiny cavity at three and I nearly fainted at the bill, plus the guilt... I always brushed her teeth, but apparently that wasn’t enough. I also wonder about the genetics thing—my dad’s never had a cavity in his life, but I’ve had dozens. Sometimes I think no matter how careful you are, some folks just get unlucky. Still, I stress over every snack now, just in case. Those “baby” teeth sure turn out to be expensive little placeholders.
I hear you on the guilt—my son had a cavity before he turned two, and I was floored. We brushed, we limited juice, all that stuff... but it still happened. The dentist mentioned something about “deep grooves” in his teeth making him more prone, which I’d never even thought about. Genetics definitely seem to play a part—my husband’s family has perfect teeth and he barely flosses, while I’ve been in and out of the dentist my whole life.
The cost is wild too. It’s like you’re paying for a crown jewel, not a baby tooth that’s just going to fall out in a couple years. I sometimes wonder if we’re overdoing it with the stress about snacks and sugar though. My mom let us have the occasional treat and we survived—but then again, dental bills were way lower back then. Did your dentist ever mention sealants for baby teeth? Ours brought it up as an option, but I’m still on the fence about whether it’s worth it for teeth that won’t be around that long.