Sahail AshrafThe Beginning..
July 9th 2008 12:03
While at the dentist with our eldest (three years) we asked about brushing. 'Don't' said the dentist, sincere as you like. 'Well, I mean, brush them well at least once a week, but don't worry too much.'
Great advice. But when you think about it, there is the fact that they will grow another set eventually. Like buying a new car, I suppose. All shiny and new at the start, then you get that first mini scratch and you hear yourself saying 'well, it's only a car..'
But something wasn't quite right. Something was bugging me. So, being the curious person I am I decided to do some research for the rest of you parents out there.
Basically, in the UK at least, there is currently an alarming level of tooth decay among the under fives. In the major cities and the poorer parts of our fair isle, tooth deacy is so bad and so common that the number of children under five who have to be sedated so that their two front teeth can be taken out is actually rising year on year.
So I got to wondering why.
And it's dead simple really. All the parents out there who work hard to brush their children's teeth (more than once a week) and cut out sugary snacks from the family diet have absolutlely nothing to worry about.
Tooth decay among the very young only happens because they are eating rubbish. That's a fact.
After learning this (I know, it isn't rocket science, but still sufficiently complex to evade the understanding of the majority of parents in the poorer parts of Manchester) I had a sudden moment of clarity. As in I knew where the problem lay. It's the parents.
So I've started a campaign. It is a big campaign. It involves other issues, not just dental care, things such as good manners, good behaviour, and good old-fashioned respect for our elders.
I'm calling it RP for Responsible Parent. I'm renaming this blog so that it represents it.
My opinion is that the world is becoming lazy when it comes to parenting, and I want each and every one of you parents out there who are responsible enough to read this to get on board.
Comment, make some noise, share ideas. How do we make our kids into good people, people who care about the next generation, the planet, their teeth?
There will be tee-shirts (honest), and this blog will be the place where good old-fashioned decent parents can get involved and try to make our collective children mentally and physically healthy.
We'll only get heard if we say something. I will post on the big issues parents face in trying to bring their children up well. You make comments.
I'm sick and tired of lazy parenting, lazy officials, and this belief that children can just 'get on with it'. I work hard as a parent, and I want to make a fuss about it.
So let's build something here.
Great advice. But when you think about it, there is the fact that they will grow another set eventually. Like buying a new car, I suppose. All shiny and new at the start, then you get that first mini scratch and you hear yourself saying 'well, it's only a car..'
But something wasn't quite right. Something was bugging me. So, being the curious person I am I decided to do some research for the rest of you parents out there.
Basically, in the UK at least, there is currently an alarming level of tooth decay among the under fives. In the major cities and the poorer parts of our fair isle, tooth deacy is so bad and so common that the number of children under five who have to be sedated so that their two front teeth can be taken out is actually rising year on year.
So I got to wondering why.
And it's dead simple really. All the parents out there who work hard to brush their children's teeth (more than once a week) and cut out sugary snacks from the family diet have absolutlely nothing to worry about.
Tooth decay among the very young only happens because they are eating rubbish. That's a fact.
After learning this (I know, it isn't rocket science, but still sufficiently complex to evade the understanding of the majority of parents in the poorer parts of Manchester) I had a sudden moment of clarity. As in I knew where the problem lay. It's the parents.
So I've started a campaign. It is a big campaign. It involves other issues, not just dental care, things such as good manners, good behaviour, and good old-fashioned respect for our elders.
I'm calling it RP for Responsible Parent. I'm renaming this blog so that it represents it.
My opinion is that the world is becoming lazy when it comes to parenting, and I want each and every one of you parents out there who are responsible enough to read this to get on board.
Comment, make some noise, share ideas. How do we make our kids into good people, people who care about the next generation, the planet, their teeth?
There will be tee-shirts (honest), and this blog will be the place where good old-fashioned decent parents can get involved and try to make our collective children mentally and physically healthy.
We'll only get heard if we say something. I will post on the big issues parents face in trying to bring their children up well. You make comments.
I'm sick and tired of lazy parenting, lazy officials, and this belief that children can just 'get on with it'. I work hard as a parent, and I want to make a fuss about it.
So let's build something here.
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