New Tooth Brushing Regulations To Take Effect

[The Northerner]

Source: WCVB-TV

BOSTON --A new mandate in Massachusetts will require day care providers to help children brush their teeth after a meal.

As NewsCenter 5's Liz Brunner reported on Monday, while it's a state law, parents can opt out.

Tooth brushing is becoming part of the daily routine at day cares across Massachusetts.

Starting this month, any child who has a meal in day care or is in care for more than four hours will be required to brush their teeth, according to the Department of Early Education and Care.

Read more: http://www.thebostonchannel.com/health/22266008/detail.html

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Man! And it takes forever to get them to go to the bathroom and wash their hands BEFORE eating . .

There goes the afternoon.

[HuckleB]

2. Anything to limit play time, I guess.

[elocs]

3. I must admit, that if any story ever deserved to be in LBN, this one does.

:bounce:

[TeeYiYi]

9. I couldn't agree more...

Thank you mods, for moving this from the dungeon to, at the very least, General Discussion.

It deserved better than the Massachusetts dungeon. Thank you again mods!

This topic could not be more relevant in these trying economic times.

TYY

[HuckleB]

4. Seems like another step in the direction that this piece shows us to be going.

Trouble-Free Playground my ASS
http://mommalou.com/2010/01/trouble-free-playground-my-ass/

[sharesunited]

5. What about flossing? Brushing is only half the job!

[rcrush]

6. There should be a law requiring Vegans to shower.

:hide:

[flvegan]

13. Vegans both smell and taste better.

So there.

[TeeYiYi]

15. Absolutly! First hand experience here!... ..nt

TYY :kick:

[LeftyMom]

27. I have it on excellent authority that I'm fucking delicious.

[TeeYiYi]

29. You must be a vegan...

...or, at the very least, conscientious. :P

TYY

[LeftyMom]

33. Vegan eight and a half years.

[TeeYiYi]

37. ...

;)

TYY

[LeftyMom]

42. Something in your eye?

[TeeYiYi]

47. Only if I'm lucky... :D

TYY

[Codeine]

60. :-p I smell awesome!

Unless I've been eating hummus.

Which, come to think of it, is always.

Hmmmm. . .

[TeeYiYi]

7. I can't believe this was moved to the dungeon!...

You may think this is ridiculous...

... but, I couldn't applaud this decision more!

Kids don't understand the importance of brushing and flossing... until they start losing their teeth in their early twenties or before.

I am personally shocked at the number of young people in their teens and early twenties that are weighing the cost of getting a 'bridge' or 'implant' vs. paying the rent or buying a new car.

I personally know of someone who has received so much government social financial assistance in her life, that she opted to have ALL of her teeth pulled in one sitting and replaced with government approved cheap dentures.

When I asked her why she would choose this route... I begged her to get a dental plan and a loan, and to start repairing her own teeth... ie: antibiotics, root canals and/or crowns, etc., her answer to me was... wait for it... wait for it........ Her answer was............ "because Medicaid didn't pay for it." They would only pay for dentures!

OMG. Spelled out in non-acronym parlance, that's Oh!. My!. God!. I was shocked! (Extreme exclamation points here!)

This person had a brand new SUV in her driveway, a flat screen tv (when they were the latest thing), X-boxes, Y-boxes, Z-boxes, brand new leather furniture... and on and on. (I'm obviously ranting now. I apologize.)

She was so angry! She said to me, "Well you have insurance to pay for your teeth.", or something equally inane.

I informed her that not only did I NOT have dental insurance, but that I had paid tens of thousands of dollars for my dental care. It didn't make a difference. She chose cheap dentures over real dental care. Yeah, she had a new car... and I had all my teeth.

I'm still shocked to this day over that decision. She was driving the newest, greatest vehicles and furnishing her house with cheap leather furniture.

I was living on a budget and making allowances for my teeth. ... Priorities!

Sorry for the rant. Again, I am so glad that this program of dental hygiene and a system of dental prioritizing is beginning to be implemented in the formative years of a child's life.

Education is apparently key!

TYY :(

[dysfunctional press]

26. i lived with horrible teeth for years...

i had braces on my teeth when i was in 6th grade- i had them for two years, and it was torture.
my gums got BADLY inflamed during those two years, and never really recovered.
i had A LOT of root canals over the years, and a couple of extractions...and my gums were ugly as hell.
when i was 47, i finally broke down and had what was left of my teeth removed, and went with dentures,
as implants are expensive as hell, and my gums are too shitty- my lower jaw could crack off or something.

the dentures make me feel better about my appearance than i have in a VERY long time.
and when you have crappy teeth- you generally have a lot of pain from them as well. i did.
dentures take care of that as well.

obviously, proper dental care is a much better way to go...but once it's too late for that,
dentures are a lifesaver.

btw- my father's side of the family has a history of bad teeth(or bad dental care) my father and all his siblings had dentures before they were 30.

[TeeYiYi]

34. Thank you for sharing that story...

... I understand your pain and am sorry for what you've been through.

My niece has been wearing braces since she was 5 or 6 years old. It was done, originally, out of love.

She is now 12, shortly going on 13, and she is still wearing those same braces. Her teeth are a mess. Her orthodontist is obviously a quack. He's not even really an orthodontist as it turns out. I have suggested that her father find a different 'orthodontist' but he is too busy working to care.

My sister died in 2006, or I would ask her to sue that dentist 'orthodontist' motherfucker.

My brother-in-law has taken a new wife and marginalized my influence in my nieces lives. I had to take him to court just to be able to visit. That was after I took care of them for 2 years following my sister's death.

Life is messy.

I'm sorry for your situation DP, but surprisingly, I totally understand it.

That's what I'm railing about. Education is key!

TYY

[truedelphi]

54. Sorry to hear abt yr situation. I too had braces for a long time.

They did them the wrong way so after three years of wearing them, I had to have them for another 18 months!

As a result, my teeth were always very vulnerable to little cavities that would form along the gum line.

I really think that people should know that braces can come with a price.

Of course, watching some TV ads, it looks like now there are braces that can be removed so you can really get in there and brush away stuff. Unlike what we had as options.

[JoeyT]

53. Of course

there's a warranty on that new car and on the furniture. On dental stuff? Not so much.
Had a friend that got several thousand in work that all fell apart within a year. The dentist's response pretty much amounted to "Time for new work!" (This wasn't stuff that came apart because of neglect. One of the crowns broke the first time he tried to chew pizza.) I've had a filling fall out the same day I got it, and the dentist charged me for putting it back in. When it fell out the next day, I went to a different dentist. Short of hiring a lawyer I was still SOL for what I paid the first one.
So I can sympathize with your friend, even if I would've gone a different route.

By the way, most people don't actually have the amount of money it takes to get dental work. I badly chipped two of my front teeth in a self defense class. The total bill was just shy of ten grand. For a lot of people, it isn't about poor choices. It's about flat out not having the money. If they can't afford a doctor to not die, they sure as hell can't afford the same or more to not lose a tooth.

Which makes it all the more important to teach kids to take care of their teeth properly.
Also: What the hell parent would opt out of this? Is there a religion that proscribes tooth brushing? Is this the fluoride crazies rearing their heads again?

[TeeYiYi]

64. Yeah, I don't get it either...

... Why would anyone complain if their kids are being encouraged to brush their teeth after meals?

And, my whole point in this thread is to practice good dental hygiene early in life, (brushing and flossing) so that you don't end up having to make terrible choices when you're older.

TYY

[TeeYiYi]

8. In this recession, dental care is being delayed...

Dental care delayed

People putting off routine checkups, dentists claim

January 27, 2010

By JEANNE MILLSAP For Sun-Times Media

<snip>

Statistics show that more and more people are putting off basic dental care during these difficult economic times to save a few dollars. But in the long run, it could cost more to put off even the simplest of dental cleanings.

<snip>

Dingbaum said he has noticed that people are delaying dental care during the recession. His office is still busy, he said, but he especially notices his patients are putting off more elective treatments, such as porcelain crowns or porcelain veneers. More have been choosing treatments like white-bonded fillings, which Dingbaum says are not as long-lasting but are less expensive in the short term.

<snip>

"Preventive maintenance is always the key," he advised. "Brush at least twice a day and keep up with regular checkups to catch things early. And if there is a problem, if you keep putting it off and putting it off, you could end up with more issues, more discomfort, more trips to the dentist, more cost, and more of the things you don't want."

Both Dingbaum and Rubis said good dental care is especially important during difficult times, and not just for the sake of teeth.

Dental disease has also been shown to play a role in heart disease, and perhaps in many other diseases of the body. During exams, dentists also check for oral cancer, which can be particularly aggressive. Dingbaum said stress, including that caused by financial problems, can also affect general health, which, in turn, can affect dental health.

<snip>

More: http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/lifestyles/2012321,4_5_JO27_DENTIST_S1-100127.article

TYY

[Fumesucker]

14. Eh, and the high price of dentistry can cause financial problems

Which will then cause stress.

[TeeYiYi]

17. If you can justify a loan for a car...

... you can afford to take out a loan for your teeth. The alternative is not optional.

TYY

[Fumesucker]

18. The bank has no collateral on your teeth..

Lot harder to get a loan for your teeth than for a car.

Not everyone has good credit and in most of America no car means no job, instantly.

ETA: And dental insurance is nothing but a sick joke if you need anything approaching major procedures.

[TeeYiYi]

19. So put the money in a mattress...

... or the proverbial cookie jar.

Brush you teeth twice a day and start flossing.

People! Please! You cannot afford to lose your teeth!

TYY

[pipoman]

56. I am fortunate enough

to have pretty good dental insurance, but for millions upon millions given a choice between eating, paying for their home, paying for catastrophic health insurance, or paying for transportation to and from work is what they really can't afford to loose...priorities and options expand with disposable income, there are just too many who have none, especially right now.

[TeeYiYi]

10. I plan to kick this topic every day for as long as necessary...

... and NO, this is not my OP. But, this topic COULD NOT be more relevant at this time.

I have a friend who called me today to ask what I thought he should do about his teeth. He is only 26.

He went to a dentist who recommended that he have a bunch of teeth pulled and a bridge installed! For fuck's sake! A bridge?!!!!! On a 26 year old man with otherwise perfect teeth?

He has been letting his teeth go for financial reasons. How sad. And now, some fuck of a dentist is suggesting that he have his teeth pulled and bridges installed. What world am I living in?

At this rate, my friend will have his teeth resting in a jar on the nightstand by his bed!

I am so disturbed at the state of dental health and 'professional recommendation' in these days of economic crisis. Unfuckingbelievable!

TYY :grr:

[tango-tee]

55. My son is very lucky,

because at age 35 he has had only one cavity. Seems he inherited the good teeth from my side of the family. On his father's side, all had dentures by the time they were forty.

I agree that it is a good idea for day care children to be made to brush their teeth after meals. It's just that I have a bit of a hard time with laws being enacted for something that common sense should dictate.

[ddeclue]

11. Nanny state alert!

That's ridiculous.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

41. Ditto.

[Initech]

45. So so glad I'm not a kid now.

:yoiks:

[TeeYiYi]

12. Please help me...

I am unable to recommend this thread for some reason. Maybe because it has been moved around so much.

Please help me 'rec' this thread so that everyone will see it. And kick it every chance you get.

Thank you.

TYY

[TeeYiYi]

16. Please people... If you understand the importance of taking care of your teeth...

Please REC this thread.

Thank you.

TYY

[ddeclue]

21. It's YOUR job to take care of your teeth..not the government's.

:argh:

[TeeYiYi]

23. Why are you so angry?...

...Did you forget to take care of your teeth? Are you wearing dentures?

Driving a Lexus and wearing dentures? Just curious...

TYY

[ddeclue]

25. No actually I have great teeth.. I just find this kind of nonsense to be too much..

as Jimmy Buffett says in one of his songs: "I don't NEED that much organization in my life.."

The government doesn't need to be making kids brush their teeth.. that's a parent's job... hell it's the KID's job.

[TeeYiYi]

28. If your kids lose their teeth...

... they'll be left to die on the ice or live in shame and obscurity with cheap dentures.

If your children are too ignorant to brush their teeth now, what's to say they'll opt for the expensive implants and porcelain veneers later?

It's never too late to teach good hygiene. If the parents aren't teaching it, then thank god the school system is willing.

And, by the way, your kid should be brushing after every meal anyway. If your kid is in daycare for 8 hours, he/she should be (by god) brushing their teeth after the the juice and cookie breaks.

How many preschoolers are showing up to school with a toothbrush and some toothpaste? Be grateful that the schools are willing to take this necessary obligation on.

So, just curious, are you opposed to school lunch too?

TYY

[ddeclue]

31. It's one thing to TEACH dental hygene..it's another to FORCE students to brush their teeth

under color of law. And it's the PARENTS responsibility and the KIDS responsibility, not the GOVERNMENT's if they don't take care of their teeth. and NO I'm NOT "grateful" when my government tries to force that on kids, I am fearful. It's nanny statism. The United Kingdom is leading the way with nanny stating and unfortunately we are following. Take some personal responsibility, brush your own damned teeth and teach your kids to do it - don't expect the government to pass a law. What's next? Gov't passes law making kids wipe after they go #2?

:eyes:

[TeeYiYi]

38. Oh my goodness...

... Anyone still arguing against dental hygiene in the schools must be bitter and wearing dentures.

Sorry you didn't get the clue in time to save your own teeth. Don't retaliate out of anger.

TYY

[CAG]

52. Being against a mandated law is not the same thing as being against

dental hygiene. This is the type of thing that makes us liberals look stupid sometimes. Is law enforcement supposed to get involved if the daycare is negligent in documenting each kid has gotten his/her teeth brushed? What if an inspector comes by and sees some corn stuck between some kid's teeth? I guess the daycare's license gets pulled...

[wickerwoman]

44. They already have.

If a kid is still in diapers and the care-provider didn't adequately clean up after them, they could lose their licenses.

Many kids in day care aren't developmentally ready to brush their teeth on their own (or practice proper bathroom hygiene without prompting). That's why they're in day care and not sitting at home on their own.

And what are the parents supposed to do when they are at work? Video conference with the kid to make sure his teeth are brushed?

Did you do everything your parents told you to do when you were 3?

[TeeYiYi]

46. Maybe you should consider Home Schooling...

... so that nobody tries to make your kids brush their teeth after lunch. ;)

And, btw, I guarantee that if your kids' ass smells like shit, you'll be getting a call from the school.

TYY

[CAG]

51. Next they'll make a law saying the daycare must make sure each kid

has clean underwear on.

[wickerwoman]

59. Kids don't put their underwear on at daycare.

They do eat there. Many of them stay there for half of their waking hours.

And if a kid soiled their underwear or diapers and the day care didn't provide a clean pair you can bet damn skippy they would lose their license and possibly be sued by the parents.

But hey, let's get rid of fire codes, carer:child mandated ratios, nutritional standards, toy safety standards, requirements for an adequate number of bathrooms and sleeping spaces, restrictions on discipline methods... that's all nanny state interference into private lives. I should be able to leave my kid with a day care center that ties forty kids to a tree, lets them poop in a field, doesn't feed them, hits them with belts and doesn't encourage them to follow basic hygiene if I want to.

[CAG]

61. equating any of this (ie, fire codes) to a mandate to brush their teeth

is not common sense. And implying that anyone against a mandate like that wants "to leave my kid with a day care center that ties forty kids to a tree, lets them poop in a field, doesn't feed them, hits them with belts and doesn't encourage them to follow basic hygiene if I want to" is insulting and one would hope such hyperbole would be left to right wing trollers, not fellow DUer's.

[wickerwoman]

30. Well, when they're at day care it's the day care provider's job

and that is all this bill is mandating: that day cares make sure kids brush their teeth if they want to keep their license. Just like the government mandates child to supervisor ratios, meal nutrition and frequency, provision of nap facilities, adequate numbers of toilets, how day care providers are allowed to discipline children, fire codes, enclosure of play facilities, safe toy standards, etc.

[ddeclue]

32. Nope.. it's still the parents job and the government should butt the hell out.

[wickerwoman]

39. But the parents, by defintion, aren't there.

I spent ten hours a day in day care when I was 3-5. I don't know if you have much experience with 3 year olds, but Mom and Dad saying "brush your teeth" in the morning will be forgotten before the kid even gets through the door let alone five hours later.

[TeeYiYi]

35. Life is not a song...

... and your kids won't know to brush their teeth if someone doesn't tell them to. Education is key!

Also, if a kid is eating lunch at school, they should be brushing their teeth at school, after lunch.

You should really pick your battles ddeclue, and this is not one of them. Making your kids brush their teeth after lunch at school is not the worst thing that could happen to your kids.

TYY

[TeeYiYi]

36. dupe

TYY

[NoFace]

20. Good, my kids have nothing to hide. NOTHING!! WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO HIDE IN YR KIDS MOUTH, HUH????

[hyphenate]

22. Well, it's always a good thing to start early with brushing

But I'd hate to have to make it a mandate to do so.

My niece, who started out as a dental technician, makes sure my great nephew does his bit. At 14 now, he has had very few cavities and has gorgeous teeth.

[TeeYiYi]

24. Ask your niece...

...what she thinks of this thread.

TYY

[mrmpa]

40. dental care important, brother almost died from abcessed tooth

It's not that he doesn't see his dentist at least twice a year, it was his dentist couldn't fit him in. He spent five weeks in the hospital and rehab, infection spread to his throat, eye and brain. He was in an induced coma for ten days. He has medical insurance, but is reponsible for a 20% copay. So let's keep those teeth brushed.

[TeeYiYi]

43. Thank you. And welcome to DU. :) ...nt

TYY

[TeeYiYi]

48. kick

TYY :kick:

[Confusious]

49. Nanny state

Don't they have anything better to do, like... I don't know....HELP MAKE SOME JOBS IN THIS COUNTRY?

[superduperfarleft]

62. Yes, it is the job of the Massachusetts state government to help make jobs in this country.

:eyes:

[pipi_k]

50. I wish a lot of stuff described as being "Nanny State"

had been around when I was a kid.

Like teaching kids how to brush their teeth, for instance. Yeah, it's a parent's job, but sometimes parents are too involved in their own lives/troubles to care about whether or not their kids are doing what they're supposed to be doing.

If I had been taught, and if it had become an ingrained habit, then maybe I wouldn't have ended up losing ALL my teeth at the age of 25 and getting dentures. I would have been spared some fucking gawdawful toothaches as well.


I agree with what someone else said above...there are far worse things our government could be doing to our kids than trying to keep them healthy. Especially since bad teeth can cause serious systemic illnesses.

[pipoman]

57. What about public schools?

Oh, wait, most states don't want to put mandates on themselves, only on private business. Isn't daycare expensive (read unaffordable) enough without continually adding new mandates? And really, isn't the function of baby teeth to fall out when the new teeth come in? And by the age permanent teeth come in, shouldn't parents already have their kids in the habit of brushing? Just more unneeded regulation.

[Jennicut]

58. Early brushing is a good thing....

My daughter has soft teeth, a genetic problem from my husband. He had cavities at age 5, she had them at age 4.
I brush her teeth several times a day because of it. For kids like mine, it would be a really good thing. And dental care is expensive.

[SoxFan]

63. About time people listened to Vermin Supreme, damn it!

http://www.zerohits.com/vermin/v1Emaifesto.html