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
Language development
Comparing children is rarely a good idea. But in one area, comparisons with others are even more stupid than they already are: language development. Because this is a very individual story. Nevertheless, there are of course a few pointers and tips. Not only the doctor knows this, but also Myriam Mayländer, speech therapist in Lorch.
"Screen-free from three" campaign
Screen-free until three - Formatted textDocument A nationwide campaign has been launched in many German paediatric practices this week: "Screen-free until three". We are taking part - even at the risk of offending parents ...
Paediatric myths
Have you ever heard these phrases or said them yourself? "The child has such yellow snot, it's probably something bacterial!" "The urine smells so bad, it's probably a urinary tract infection!" "The child is coughing so badly, it must be pneumonia!" You hear all these sentences over and over again and they are all, you guessed it, rubbish.