Healthy teeth for the little ones: course at the Westpfalz Clinic!

Healthy teeth for the little ones: course at the Westpfalz Clinic!

An exciting program to promote dental health in young children is just around the corner. On Thursday, September 18th, a course entitled “Healthy teeth from the start” will take place in the conference room of the Westpfalz Clinic in Kirchheimbolanden. This informative event is organized by the Rhineland-Palatinate Youth Dental Care Association (LAGZ) in cooperation with the Westpfalz Clinic. The speaker, Ann-Kathrin Schlemmer, will address all important topics relating to dental health from 10 a.m. to 11.30 a.m.

There is valuable information here, especially for new parents. Among other things, points such as brushing your teeth from the first tooth onwards, your first visit to the dentist and the choice of pacifiers and drinking habits are on the agenda. Healthy eating and the role of fluorides are also discussed. Interested parents can register directly by calling 0175 2191691 or by email at ann-kathrin.schlemmer@gmx.de.

Fluoride and its importance

Fluoride plays a central role in dental health, especially in young children. The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) emphasizes that fluoride is an important building material for teeth and contributes to caries prevention. Nevertheless, there are legal measures to limit the maximum fluoride intake. The EU is planning uniform maximum levels for dietary supplements and fortified foods in order to avoid health risks caused by oversupply. However, there are currently no set maximum levels for fluoride in foods and supplements, which means increased vigilance on the part of parents is necessary.

Water with fluoride is an important issue because it can have different concentrations that vary in different regions of Germany. While drinking water in Germany is usually not fluoridated and has an average fluoride content of 0.1 mg/L, some mineral waters may contain higher concentrations. The state authorities usually provide relevant information on fluoride levels. The use of dental care products containing fluoride is also important for parents; Commercially available toothpastes usually contain fluoride in concentrations of 1000 to 1450 ppm.

Important recommendations

A BfR publication on fluoride prevention in infants and small children refers to the guidelines for the safe use of fluoride. These recommendations are essential to minimize the risk of overdose. The German Society for Dentistry, Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine has created S2k guidelines that can give parents valuable information on caries prevention.

For just under 1.5 hours, interested parents have the opportunity to find out about all these aspects of dental health and learn how they can optimally support their little ones. This course is a great opportunity to develop a good hand for your own children's dental health and at the same time to exchange ideas with other parents. The Rhine Palatinate reports about this course and the importance of considering dental health early on. That too BfR and ZM online provide important information about the use of fluoride to children.