We've actually had a similar experience with our kiddo. Went fluoride-free for about a year and things seemed fine at first, but at our last dentist visit, they pointed out some early signs of enamel weakening—not cavities yet, just spots to watch. Dentist explained fluoride helps strengthen enamel against the acids produced by bacteria, but diet and flossing habits are super important too. So yeah, it might not be just fluoride alone, but it's probably worth keeping an eye on enamel health and maybe checking in with your dentist regularly to be safe.
We had a similar thing happen with our youngest. Switched to fluoride-free toothpaste because we were worried about him swallowing too much, and it seemed fine for a while. But then at his checkup, the dentist mentioned some weak spots starting up. Did your dentist suggest any specific dietary changes or just general advice? Ours recommended cutting back on juice and sugary snacks, which honestly made a noticeable difference after a few months... Curious if others noticed diet playing a big role too.
We went through something similar with our daughter. We switched to fluoride-free toothpaste because she was basically treating it like dessert—seriously, she'd ask for more toothpaste like it was frosting or something, lol. Anyway, we thought we were being smart by going fluoride-free, but at her next dentist visit, they pointed out some early signs of decay. Not fun.
Our dentist also mentioned diet changes, specifically cutting back on juice and sugary snacks. Honestly, I was skeptical at first because we weren't exactly giving her candy bars for breakfast or anything. But when I started paying closer attention, I realized how much sugar sneaks into everyday stuff—like yogurt tubes, granola bars, even those fruit pouches that seem healthy. We didn't eliminate everything completely (because let's be real, that's impossible), but we did cut way back and swapped in more cheese sticks, veggies with hummus, and plain water instead of juice boxes.
After a few months, the dentist said things looked way better. So yeah, diet definitely played a bigger role than I expected. Fluoride toothpaste is back in our routine now too, but we're just extra careful about using a tiny smear and supervising brushing time closely.
Honestly though, parenting is basically just one long experiment of trial and error...and hoping you don't mess up too badly along the way, haha.
"Honestly though, parenting is basically just one long experiment of trial and error..."
Haha, couldn't agree more. We went through a similar toothpaste drama with our youngest—turns out moderation and supervision were key. Also, crunchy veggies like carrots or celery really helped clean teeth naturally between brushes.
Haha, parenting definitely feels like a never-ending science project sometimes. But I gotta say, crunchy veggies as a substitute for brushing? Hmm... not so sure about that one. Reminds me of when my own kids were little—we tried the whole "apple slices and carrots clean teeth" thing too. Sure, it helped a bit between meals, but our dentist was pretty clear that veggies alone weren't cutting it (pun intended).
I mean, yeah, moderation and supervision are great—totally agree there—but fluoride toothpaste really made the difference for us. I grew up in the pre-fluoride days (yep, I'm old enough to remember!), and trust me, cavities were practically a rite of passage back then. Once fluoride toothpaste became standard, my kids had way fewer dental issues than I ever did.
Anyway, just my two cents from someone who's spent way too much time in the dentist's chair over the years...
