Dental Health Also brush molars properly

Tooth decaying molars „cross brush“

09/27/2013

Bad teeth have long been no exception for Germany's children. In around 15 percent of toddlers, caries occurs even before the third birthday. On the occasion of the Day of Dental Health experts explain how important a thorough dental care is and how the child's teeth are properly cleaned.

Parents should brush their teeth if necessary
Under the motto „Healthy starts in the mouth - brushing your teeth makes school“ On the 25th of September, the Day of Dental Health took place, in which since 1991 more than 20 companies and associations from the dental profession and health insurances have organized numerous actions. This year's focus was on the dental health of children, because it is anything but good for them. Only just over half of all schoolchildren have healthy, caries-free teeth.

Especially with children from families with low incomes, this problem is increasing. „Children from socially disadvantaged strata have significantly more tooth decay than the age-matched average of the population“, reported Manuela Schäfer, consultant for contract dental care at the GKV-Spitzenverband. The expert therefore supports group prophylaxis in kindergartens and schools. If parents could not take responsibility for the dental care of their children, kindergarten and school would have to step in. Evaluations of municipal dental services confirmed, „that primary school children who brushed their teeth every day in kindergarten had significantly healthier permanent teeth than children who could not clean in the facility“, It says in a message from the Association for Dental Hygiene.

Especially in school, oral hygiene plays an important role. Pantelis Petrakakis, chairman of the Federation of Dentists of the Public Health Service. „In this phase usually begins the Zahnwechsel; The new permanent teeth should ideally remain healthy and functional until old age.“ If the first permanent molar appears in the child's mouth around the age of six, it is initially slightly lower than the rest of the teeth. In order to ensure its cleaning, in addition to the usual cleaning movements on the chewing surfaces and the sides with the toothbrush behind the last milk count should be brushed back and forth. The Federal Association of Pediatric Dentists advises. In this way, a thorough cleaning of the permanent tooth is guaranteed. Until the children themselves are able to brush their teeth properly, they should get support from their parents by cleaning them up. (Ag)

Picture: Claudia Heck