Relative concerned that nephew’s teeth are rotting

DEAR HARRIETTE: My 14-year-old nephew’s teeth are rotting, and my brother and sister-in-law are choosing to ignore it instead of taking him to the dentist. My nephew had poor dental hygiene growing up and rarely brushed his teeth. Over the years, I have noticed that his dental health has gotten progressively worse, and now it has reached a point where it is noticeable. His teeth appear to be decaying, and I am concerned that he may be experiencing pain or discomfort, even if he does not openly complain about it. I have tried bringing up the issue with my brother and sister-in-law, but they don’t seem to understand how serious the situation could be. They keep putting off making a dentist appointment, saying that they will get around to it, but months have gone by, and nothing has changed.