More and more infants suffer from tooth decay

Nipple bottle caries: Dentists alerted due to increase in tooth decay in toddlers

02/10/2014

Dentists are alarmed by the increase in tooth decay among toddlers under the age of three. The deciduous tooth decay has continued to increase in recent years. Dentist organizations now call for earlier checkups. Health insurance companies react with incomprehension.

Up to 15 percent of infants suffer from nipple bottle caries
Although caries diseases in children and adolescents are declining in Germany, among the under-three-year-olds the childhood diseases of childhood have been increasing for years. Dietmar Oesterreich, Vice President of the Federal Chamber of Dentists (BZÄK) explained that now about ten to 15 percent of infants suffer from such a so-called Nuckelflaschenkaries. Christian Splieth, President of the German Society of Pediatric Dentistry said that even at two- and three-year old milk teeth had to be drawn or roots filled. According to the information provided by the Dentists' Association (KZBV) „Caries as the most common chronic disease in preschool children.“ Children of parents who have no or low school qualifications and children from families with a migrant background are particularly affected. Not all vulnerable children could be reached by the group prophylaxis in the kindergartens.

Healthy milk teeth important for later dentition
Many parents think that tooth care for deciduous teeth is not so important, because they will fail anyway. However, healthy milk teeth are the basis for healthy teeth in adulthood. According to experts, infants are often at risk of tooth decay not only because of the sugar content of many children's foods, but also because of the consistency of the food they eat. For example, many young children are given convenience foods or children's foods that are given as a liquid or porridge and are barely chewed. With regard to the development of tooth decay this should be assessed rather negatively, since chewing represents a certain self-cleaning of the teeth and mushy food promotes the development of dental plaque.

Especially risk from sweetened drinks
The teeth of children who are constantly sucking on a bottle of sweetened beverages such as sweetened tea are at particular risk. Because this causes the teeth are constantly washed around by sugar. One speaks in this already occurring early, but well preventable illness also of Nuckel- or Saugerflaschenkaries. If the diseased teeth are not treated, this could lead to toothache, fistulas or an abscess, as well as premature tooth loss and have negative consequences for the subsequent dentition. Splieth emphasized that deciduous caries for the affected toddlers „often very painful“ be. In addition, the early loss of primary teeth affects „the chewing power, hinders the language development and development of permanent teeth“. In addition, the children would often have to be treated under anesthesia.

Screening is too late
Doctors' representatives are calling for much earlier check-ups at the dentist given the increase in caries in infants. In the future, children will be put into practice as early as the sixth month of life, that is, with the breakthrough of the first deciduous teeth, the Federal Dental Association (BZÄK) and the Federal Dental Association (KZBV) in Berlin. So far, these checks have only been provided for in statutory health insurance for children over two and a half years of age. The Chairman of the Board of the KZBV, Dr. Ing. Wolfgang Eßer criticized: „That's definitely too late.“

New joint supply concept developed
In order to effectively counter caries in infants, the Federal Dentistry Association and the Federal Dental Association have developed a care concept together with the Federal Association of Pediatric Dentists (BuKiZ), the German Midwives Association (DHV) and the scientific support of the University of Greifswald. They claim under the title „Avoid early childhood caries“, that for „Toddlers between the 6th and 30th Month of life, three systematic early detection medical examinations“ introduced and im „yellow booklet“ documented for medical child examinations. These early detections should „include preventive and health education measures.“ All children should be familiar with the new concept „the same chances of a healthy life“ be opened, reports the KZBV.

Health insurance companies react with incomprehension
Professor Dietmar Oesterreich explained about the objective of the new concept: „We have an ambitious goal. By 2020, 80 percent of 6-year-olds will be caries free.“ The developed approach would show health policy and health insurance companies possible solutions to the existing supply problem. However reacted the top federation of the legal health insurance (GKV) with incomprehension on the demand of the dentists. Deputy union spokeswoman Ann Marini said there was no such thing „the one, all-changing action“, to reduce early childhood tooth decay. „Rival concepts of various medical professorships do not help there.“ The statutory health insurance would see no reason to shake the traditional pension system. „Precisely because caries is not a continuous problem in small children, but only occurs in certain parent groups, the classic screening tests should remain with the pediatrician“, Sun Marini. (Ad)