Specialisations
Children
The first two baby teeth generally break through when your child is 6-10 months old. These are often the bottom two incisors in the middle. The full set of milk teeth is usually complete by around 2-2.5 years of age.
The milk teeth will change between the ages of 6 and 13. They are replaced by the permanent teeth. The permanent tooth dissolves the root of the baby tooth, as it were.
The first visit to the dentist
Between the ages of 2 and 4, toddlers’ motor skills develop to the point where they can zip or button their own coats, sometimes already draw a doll with arms and legs, play hopscotch and ride a tricycle. A child at this stage (2-4 years old) thinks everything is alive and has feelings and thoughts (animism). They believe a molar can go to sleep and a drill can talk. They also think a drill hurts on purpose and is naughty. Children at this age think magically; they may be afraid of the dentist’s suction device because they think it can suck them up.
Knowing that a child thinks this way, it is wise to be careful what you say. Reading them a book about going to the dentist can help prepare your child. However, it is inadvisable to tell your child that they don’t need to be afraid. This actually arouses suspicion and they will begin to think that they should, in fact, be afraid of something.
From the moment the child visits the dentist, they are introduced to the dental situation through playful watching and tooth brushing on their parents’ laps. The prevention assistant plays a big role in this. We show children through plaque staining where they can brush even better, we teach them the proper brushing technique and give them information about eating and drinking occasions that can be harmful to teeth. If they are made aware of this at the right age, it becomes normal to take this into account and it becomes routine to brush properly twice a day. Children can benefit greatly because prevention is the key to a lifetime of healthy teeth. You’re never too young to learn!
Cavities and erosion
Everyone has bacteria in the mouth and that is actually a good thing. They provide defences in your mouth; the good bacteria make it less likely for harmful bacteria to gain the upper hand. However, when certain bacteria sit undisturbed in the mouth for a long time, a rough white layer forms on the teeth; this is called plaque. If plaque is given a chance to develop for several days, sugars and other carbohydrates are converted into acids, which can cause cavities.
Brushing twice daily and using a tooth pick or floss once daily prevents cavities. Of course, cavities usually occur in the hard-to-brush areas, where plaque can grow undisturbed for extended periods of time. Such as between the molars and in deeper grooves.
With babies/young children, it is important to switch from a feeding bottle to a sippy cup as early as possible. A large number of children can learn to drink from a (sippy) cup as early as 9 months of age. You can use a sippy cup as an intermediate step to switch from bottle to cup. Allowing your child to drink small amounts often, spread throughout the day, can seriously affect the milk teeth. This may cause sippy cup caries. These are cavities that begin at the front teeth in the upper jaw and later affect the other teeth.
If you are breastfeeding for a long time and also at night, you need to consider that this is an additional feeding moment for the baby. Remember that breast milk also contains nutrients, so brushing is necessary.
With erosion, the tooth enamel dissolves (decalcifies or demineralises). It is important to allow the teeth to recover for a while after a meal or drink: saliva neutralises the acid and helps to protect the teeth. Therefore, do not brush your teeth for the first hour after eating acidic products. But also do not brush your teeth an hour before eating acidic products. This is because there is always a protein-rich layer (pellicle) on your teeth that protects against erosion. Immediately after brushing, that layer is gone for a while and your teeth are so clean that they are temporarily more susceptible to erosion. In the hours after brushing, this protein-rich layer re-forms. Erosion is a growing problem. Soft drinks and fruit juices are erosive. Frequency is important, as is whether you drink quickly or not (better to drink it all at once).
With babies/young children, it is important to switch from a feeding bottle to a sippy cup as early as possible. A large number of children can learn to drink from a (sippy) cup as early as 9 months of age. You can use a sippy cup as an intermediate step to switch from bottle to cup. Allowing your child to drink small amounts often, spread throughout the day, can seriously affect the milk teeth. In addition tosippy cup caries, erosioncan then occur. This is a particular risk with acidic drinks, such as fruit juices.
Brushing information
With small children, you as parents/guardians will brush your child’s teeth for the first few years. Of course, a child must also learn to brush themselves, so they may also try (practise). When they start to become proficient, you can let them brush on their own in the morning, for example. In the evening, you then brush for them or do a quick follow-up. A general guideline is for the parents to brush the child’s teeth until the age of 5; between the ages of 5-10, the child will slowly start brushing on their own more often and you will do a follow-up, and from the age of 10, they can brush on their own. A follow-up is no longer necessary when your child can brush as well as you can.
Brushing information
With small children, you as parents/guardians will brush your child’s teeth for the first few years. Of course, a child must also learn to brush themselves, so they may also try (practise). When they start to become proficient, you can let them brush on their own in the morning, for example. In the evening, you then brush for them or do a quick follow-up. A general guideline is for the parents to brush the child’s teeth until the age of 5; between the ages of 5-10, the child will slowly start brushing on their own more often and you will do a follow-up, and from the age of 10, they can brush on their own. A follow-up is no longer necessary when your child can brush as well as you can.
The basic fluoride recommendation
The basic fluoride advice in the Netherlands, proposed by the Ivoren Kruis, is as follows:
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From age 0 to 2 |
Brush once a day with toddler or child toothpaste containing 500 ppm fluoride. (500-750 ppm) |
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From age 2 to 5 |
Brush twice a day with toddler fluoride toothpaste (500 ppm fluoride) |
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For ages 5 and up |
Brush twice a day with regular fluoride toothpaste (1000-1500 ppm fluoride) |
