Kids and the Agony of the Teeth: Moms Talk

What are your memories of going to the dentist as a child?

Mine are getting to choose the color of my new toothbrush, the sickeningly cloying orange flavor of the flouride treatment, and not being able to stop running my tongue over my smooth-again teeth after the braces were removed.

Memories for some children today may not be quite as benign.

A New York Times article this week told of how dentists are facing more young children with more cavities. These children need so much dental work, that dentists are needing to put them completely under with general anesthesia.

One example in the story was a 2 1/2-year-old child who had cavities on 11 of his 20 baby teeth.

Ouch!

Dentists quoted in the story put the blame squarely on the parents, saying today's parents are less likely to enforce twice-a-day brushing, don't get their children into regular dental care soon enough, give their children bottled water that has no flouride, and let them eat stuff with sugars in it without brushing afterwards. A big problem, dentists added, was the never-empty bottle or sippy cup filled with juice.

Today, let's talk children and dental care. Do you feel the dentists quoted were too harsh on parents? Share your experiences with children and teeth-brushing. What's the best advice you got on children's dental care? Can the cost of dental care and dental insurance be an issue with parents getting regular dental care for their children?

Joining us, as always, is our great Moms Council.

 is a freelance reporter who has worked with Patch and is also a communications professional. She is a first-time mom of a son born in 2010.

 works in public relations. She has a daughter, Amara. Monina is also a member of the Disney Moms Panel, one of 15 moms selected nationwide, advising people online about planning Disney vacations.

 is a mom of four children ages 6 and under with her husband, Bill. Their fourth child, Colette, arrived Jan. 10. Stephanie also works part-time.

 is a native of New Jersey. She is a marketing professional who has worked in advertising, market research, vending and equipment companies. She and her husband live in Avon with their two children.

 is a mom to a Girl Scout and lives in Avon.

 is the newest member of the  and past president of Avon Early Childhood PTA.

If you're a parent and want to share your experiences raising children in Avon, you can also .