Feeling the little ones' (milk) teeth
Please all go "aaaaaaah". We are focusing on the topic of dental health - together with dentist Irina Kuhnert, our practice neighbour. We have summarised nine important points:
Fluoride administration: Only locally, i.e. via the toothpaste - no tablets. This is the recommendation of the German and European Society of Paediatric Dentistry. Nevertheless, there are professional associations in Germany that recommend vitamin D plus fluoride in tablet form. We here say: only vitamin D as a tablet, fluorine with the toothpaste as soon as the first teeth appear.
Tooth enamel defects: Are common in children. Important: Have it checked immediately if anything is noticeable or at least once a year at the dentist. For the first time when a few teeth have come in or between 1 and 2 years - also to create a routine for the child.
Milk tooth decay: Prompt treatment is important as it spreads quickly due to the soft tooth structure. Important: tooth decay is a bacterial disease. Parents can transmit tooth decay to children. Do not lick the dummy! Do not share spoons!
Dental care: twice a day. Electrically, if the child accepts this. Important here too: Develop a routine. Start as soon as the first teeth appear.
Re-brushing: Parents should continue brushing until the child can really do it on their own. This varies, some children do this well at the age of 6 to 7, others at the age of 10.
After brushing: In the evening after brushing, only water or unsweetened tea - no honey either. Attention! Milk is caries-promoting! Breast milk too.
Fruit juices and fruit: It is best to have them with the main meals and in any case not all the time. Because these are "acid attacks" that promote tooth decay.
Soother: Wean off at 2.5 years. Anterior open bite / bone malformations can otherwise only be compensated for to a limited extent by jaw growth.
Caries treatment: For small children, child-friendly under ITN (anaesthesia) if there is no other option. Important: Early treatment is important for caries. Waiting months until the child can perhaps manage without anaesthetic is not a good idea, because otherwise it may be too late and the damage much greater. With anaesthesia, it is less traumatising for the child. It is therefore advisable to go to a dental practice that has experience with anaesthetising children and is well equipped to do so.
Further interesting tips
Fennel tea
There is a lot of excitement in many online forums and social media channels at the moment. A popular household remedy for stomach ache and flatulence, but also for coughs, toothache and sleep disorders, is under suspicion: Fennel tea. And now all of a sudden it's supposed to be poisonous? Cause for panic or pure scaremongering? The doctor explains.
Worms
Something from the disgusting box again today. It's about worms. This is actually a very, very common story in small children - and often causes a lot of disgust in the children concerned and their families, even though the whole thing is a fairly harmless story from a medical point of view.
Catcalling
A topic that initially looks like a social/political issue, but which is also relevant from a paediatric and adolescent medical perspective: catcalling. The doctor wasn't really aware of this topic and its importance for a long time. However, his three young adult daughters were able to help him understand.