Fluoride is well known, is the best friend of the teeth. Thanks to him, strengthens the enamel and reduce cavities. However, excess fluoride can cause white spots are harmless to health, but that would spoil the smile … Should we stop fluoride supplements? The French Union for Oral Health (the UFSBD) makes its first recommendations.

Fluoride helps strengthen the resistance of enamel to acid attack. This property has been for 30 years a key weapon for the improvement of the teeth of children and adolescents. Among the battery of measures adopted include the generalization of fluoridated toothpaste, the decision to fluoridate water in some states in the United States or Canada and that of adding fluoride to salt (since 1987 in France). The government has also encouraged parents to give their children fluoride tablets or drops. Better safe than sorry … the post was firmly told for years “Be attentive to the future of your children’s baby teeth, give them fluoride!”. This creed is no longer appropriate today …

The risk of “fluorosis”

A controversy was born in the United States a few years ago, has questioned the supplements in the form of tablets and drops. The overdose of fluoride can indeed cause white spots on teeth, “fluorosis”. Paradoxically, this condition affects the media pay more attention to dental hygiene and more favorable to the administration of fluoride, the wealthier classes who have diligently followed the instructions.

A study of the French Union Dental Oral allowed in 1998, relative to this risk. “It is low in France since the rate of children under 12 years affected by fluorosis is only 2.7%,” says its President, Dr. Patrick Hescot, also an expert of the World Health Organization. But to be tenuous, the risk is nonetheless to be considered. At the request of the Ministry of Health, UFSBD today published a series of recommendations on the subject.

A matter of dosage

The beneficial role of fluoride through toothpaste particular, should not be fundamentally challenged. However, it is essential to use with care supplements fluoride tablets, which must be reserved for children with high caries risk. They must be issued by the pediatrician, the doctor or dentist based on a specific individual fluoride balance. It should take into account the criteria as diverse as:

* The content of fluoride in tap water, mineral water used;
* The type of salt used;
* The products of oral hygiene used;
* Eating habits.

The UFSBD also recommends avoiding prenatal fluoride prescription drug during pregnancy and do not use fluoridated toothpaste before 3 years, then use a low fluoride toothpaste for children 3 to 6 years.

The tone is not in controversy in UFSBD and it is no question of storing the fluorine in the closet after years of loyal service. “It is simply reviewing the manner of use of fluoride, said Dr. Hescot, and book supplements in pill to children with high caries risk.” An evolution in terms of dental health has been permitted through the use mass of fluorine. Today, given the considerable improvement in the oral health of the French, it is time to refine its use.

What if fluorosis?

Tasks appear on your children’s teeth. The advice is common sense: go earlier than your dentist! Fluorosis is irreversible (enamel does not belong to reconstruct and return to its initial state), but its symptoms can be hidden through techniques of cosmetic dentistry. The dentist can also give you advice so that brothers and sisters of the child concerned keep themselves, teeth gleaming.

It is true that twice-born, but they have to last a lifetime. Today the answer to the questions that most concern about the care of teeth.

1. Is it inherited the bad teeth?
Although the child is the spitting image of one of their parents, would not inherit the quality of your teeth, be it good or bad. While parents and children can have the same arrangement of the jaw, this does not mean that children will suffer from dental caries of their elders.

Good habits, which have nothing to do with genetics, if they make healthy teeth. In the formation of cavities, for example, statements containing a micro-tartar, and sugar diet, which facilitates the destructive work of these, a third factor, the composition of saliva also plays an important role. In short, to get the boy have healthy teeth, parents should monitor their diet is correct and make good use of the toothbrush.

2. Can we do something during pregnancy?
It seems incredible, but true teething begins in the womb. In the tenth week of pregnancy starts the germination of the teeth and in the last quarter of the second dentition. This implies that is the mother who provides the raw material for the child’s teeth.

Therefore, pregnant women, should be taken at face value the recommendations on food they do gynecologists. The abundance of dairy products, mainly low-fat, plus a healthy diet rich in vitamins and minerals, will be a good seed to the teeth. It is conceivable that such an important element for the teeth such as fluorine can not be absent during pregnancy. However, while the mouth of a pregnant woman qualifies, just take out your child’s advantage.

3. What is the most suitable food for ?
For the formation of teeth are needed, especially calcium, phosphorus, iron, vitamin D and trace amounts of fluoride. If the baby takes solid food and a varied and balanced menu and a sufficient amount of fruits and vegetables, ensure that you not miss any of these essential nutrients.

It is also important that when the baby begins to put everything in their mouth, rubber toy was cool to go to train your gums. And, if possible, should take breakfast and snacks such as whole life. The white bread and sweet biscuits, which have an important place in children’s diets, can damage the teeth.

4. When should start to clean their teeth?
Why wait for the Tooth Fairy leave the ultimate gift for brand new toothbrush? The habits are not acquired for the overnight, so the child must know that, henceforth, the tooth brushing will be an integral task of the meal.

The first steps can make them with gauze or a cotton-tipped applicator once a day, preferably at night. For the moment should not put too much zeal in dental hygiene because tooth enamel that have just left is still very soft and sensitive. Moreover, at this age, saliva production is often very abundant and constitutes the best protection for teeth at the time.

5. When you need the first brush?
Between 18 months and two years children pay close attention to what adults do and repeat it. This is a perfect time to start cleaning seriously. However, this task should not be left to the boy because he has no sufficient motive force for good hygiene. The best thing that a parent of a review of the child’s mouth after guiding their work. But not forgetting that the kids were very upset that they gasped. Best ask open your mouth a minute after entering the brush can close the jaw and be easy to get to the bottom for cleaning.

6. What is the most suitable plane for a child?
The best brush for the beginnings must have a handle to grip, short head and bristles, if possible, fine and rounded ends to avoid damaging the gums. The part of the brush should be small so that the child can reach all teeth.

7. How to teach them to wash your teeth?
Most important is that parents lead by example. Of no use teaching, much emphasis is put on it, if children observe adults to skip every now and then a very important task. Moreover, for a guy, the best way to learn is to see how parents do. Do not forget to have such an important and useful as a stool or chair so that it looks in the mirror when you get down to work.

8. What can be done to you to get buff brush your teeth?
For the hygiene of the mouth is taken as a pleasant task, we must ensure sweeten with a little imagination, take it as a game. Impose such an obligation would have the opposite effect and become a nuisance. Why not encourage him to use the brush with your favorite doll or teddy bear? Naturally, the doll must be its own.

A small (usually entertain them also inspect the mouths of their parents and washing their teeth. Those who have an electric toothbrush can put an end to the cleaning of children with this device. To them I really like the device and make your use quickly in an essential ritual.

9. How long does a brush?
Conventional brushes and spare parts for electric toothbrushes that are used several times a day can be used two months, at most three. As the bristles begin to spread and bent, and not cleaned well and should be thrown away. After using the foot is placed in a glass to dry.

10. What is the most appropriate toothpaste?
This demonstrated that tooth pastes or gels with fluoride can reduce tooth decay between 20 and 40 percent. But keep in mind that smaller swallow nothing less than between 20 and 80 percent of toothpaste. And, although these doses are not toxic or have side effects, can cause stains on the enamel of permanent teeth. It is therefore appropriate to use toothpastes with fluoride containing less than 0.25 percent.

As for the taste, the kids are in favor of the sweet and fruity. However, their use entails a contradiction: horn explain that sweet things harm the teeth if the toothpaste tastes like candy?