Xylitol

[ailbhe]

Can't. Make. Emer. Take it.

She doesn't like it. I've tasted it myself and I can see why - it doesn't taste like sugar. I'm wondering, could I make xylitol+water into ice-lollies and give her one after breakfast every day? What other suggestions do you have?

Comments

[serene]

Do you have xylitol chewing gum there, and are the girls allowed to chew gum?

We have candies with xylitol in them. I could send you some.

[ailbhe]

I haven't been able to find non-mint sweets here with xylitol. Yes, they are allowed to chew gum, but Emer refused to (I bought xylitol gum in Denmark).

I found a xylitol-and-fluoride toothpaste but it's minty and for children over 6.

Her next dentist appointment is on 3rd July.

[myfirstkitchen.livejournal.com]

I've had "sugar free" chocolate with it in a few times and that was alright - the mint and orange ones were better than "normal", but it was expensive. And I had this once: http://www.natural-alternative-products.co.uk/xylitol-jam-strawberry-280g-p-2726.html It wasn't bad on toast.

[feanelwa.livejournal.com]

Ooh - I saw this BBC article about decay in baby teeth that mentions there's a fluoride varnish dentists can paint on to slow down slight decay...an alternative, though as a former dental-phobe I can't see an uncooperative child putting up with a whole mouth of tooth painting. (Mentions Sophie Waller who had the severe dental phobia and refused to eat, in case you'd rather not be surprised by it.)

Would it help if you dyed the solution different colours to choose from, used it yourself when she does and made "one two three eeeyuck" noises as if it's a game? Or maybe used it yourself like that for a few days to make it seem a grown-up thing to copy?

[ailbhe]

We dyed it red together, she was delighted, she tasted it and spat it out.

Last time we saw the dentist she said that any treatment would have to be done with Emer sedated.

[feanelwa.livejournal.com]

That's the same as people do with xylitol-containing gum, though - it's just maybe not spat out so fast. Some of it was delivered to the surface of the teeth, so it was a success, just a smaller one than theoretically possible.

[ailbhe]

Linnea, whose teeth are made of granite or possibly titanium, is happy to smear xylitol around her mouth with glee (though not to eat afterwards because of the taste). Emer, whose teeth are made of damp chalk and wet cardboard, clamps her jaws shut and if enough stuff she doesn't like goes into her mouth she makes herself vomit. Vomit isn't good for teeth either.

We have another dentist appointment soon. I hope to get from here to there without crying too much. Emer cries enough as it is.

[ailbhe]

I just found Emer's sorbitol sweets and rolled them in xylitol and gave her five. Fingers crossed.

[(Anonymous)]

You need to get some Toothmousse: http://www.qadental.co.uk/toothmousse.html

I work in dentistry in an Australian University and our dental clinic prescribes this to patients to remineralise and strengthen weakened tooth enamel. It comes in fruit flavours, mint or vanilla and is sweet with a smooth texture so I'm sure she will have no problem with it. You just brush it onto the teeth after cleaning at night and don't spit the residue out so it can get to work overnight.

(Sorry for the anonymous, I don't have a LJ!)

[ailbhe]

Sweet doesn't bode well for getting Emer to take it, sadly. Though since we already have to pin her down to brush her teeth we can just do this too, I suppose. I wonder how I can find out whether the milk-derived protein is likely to cause her digestive distress?

[micheinnz.livejournal.com]

I'd discuss it with a dentist first -- it might not be the right thing for Emer. And since dental treatment is so traumatic for her in the first place, I'd hate to put her through anything like that and have it turn out to be the wrong thing.

[tassie-gal.livejournal.com]

My dentist uses tooth moouse as opposed to flouride treatments. I find it MUCH easier to handle. The mint is not sweet at all, infact its quite tangy. (or at least the one my dentist uses is.)

[ailbhe]

Mint makes Emer gag until she spits up :/ she says it's "Hot" and burns her.

The whole dental hygiene thing involves a whole lot of holding her down and making her scream, actually.

[tassie-gal.livejournal.com]

Any way you could get her to chew one of those tablets that showed where you have missed brushing and make it a game (ie lets get that spot out etc?)
Totally left field but I dont have kids and have a mild dental phobia myself.....
Also what about those kiddie electric toothbrushes that run on batteries? I know they are probably slightly against your principles but the novelty factor might work....even if she just chews it.
Or you could try those sticks that they chew on in Africa to make toothbrushes....
(Now I'm just being overtired and silly, its 3:30am and I cant sleep...will stop spamming your LJ now...)

[ailbhe]

I'd brush Emer's teeth with baby seal fur packaged by Tibetan three-year-olds if it would help, I think. We use a rechargable electric toothbrush for the adults, but Emer's a bit scared of it.

Linnea is delighted with the disclosure tabs but Emer won't touch them.

The sticks sound like a good idea - I will look into them.

[the-changeling.livejournal.com]

Do you think she's a super-taster? As in, has a lot more taste buds?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2880471.stm