The address determines whether your child has cavities

Few parents think that their place of residence may influence whether their children have tooth decay or not. A new Danish study shows that there is a significant correlation between children's and young people's residence and the risk of caries (tooth decay), writes Tandlægebladet.

Fluoride concentration in the tap water that comes out of taps in the home can have a decisive influence on their children's caries. Children who live in Jutland, has twice as likely to have cavities as children who live in the southeastern part of Zealand and Lolland-Falster, Moen and Bornholm, where fluoride concentrations are highest.

There are significant differences in fluoride concentration in drinking water, depending on where you are in the country. If you live as a child or young in an area where a high concentration of fluoride in drinking water, it may mean that the risk of tooth decay can be half as large as in an area where the fluorine content is low - for example in West Jutland where the risk of tooth decay is up to twice as large as the areas where the fluoride concentration is highest. The more fluoride in the water, the fewer holes.
The survey was conducted among 48,351 children in the 5-year age and 43,848 15-year-olds across the country.

Here you can see what the fluoride content in drinking water is in your area. Click on the image to see larger photo.

Read more in Tandlægebladet No. 6 2010 or www.tandlaegebladet.dk

Tooth decay is transmitted from adults to children

It's probably very few mothers who know the composition of bacteria in their saliva and probably even fewer who know that this affects their child's dental health for life. Kisses and hugs are fine, but contact in an exchange of saliva can transmit "cariesbakterier" from mother to child. Parents should be better informed, is the assessment of Professor at the School of Dentistry in Copenhagen Svante Twetman.

Mothers pass on bacteria to their children
People who have very caries, often have a specific bacterial composition. And this "cariesbakterier" can thus be infectious. Studies show that bacteria in infants in more than 70 percent of cases of maternal origin, but the infection can also occur from other relatives or for example in a nursery environment.

Mothers with many "cariesbakterier" are at high risk of transmitting these to their children by example, sharing the place with their children or taste the baby bottle. The earlier a child is exposed to cariesbakterier, the greater is the risk that the bacteria establish a permanent and on a large scale. Thus there is an increased risk of the child developing caries in preschool, writes Tandlægebladet.

According to Professor Svante Twetman these are first and foremost to avoid direct saliva contact. One should as parents avoid taking the child's pacifier or other things that must go into the baby mouth, into his own mouth. One should not, for example try baby food temperature in his own mouth. And you should not soak the nipple, or "make clean" by taking it in his mouth.

Another measure which the mother can take is to try to reduce its level of cariesbakterier. Based on multiple independent studies highlight Svante Twetman that, "the mother can treat themselves antibacterial by rinsing the mouth with klorhexidinopløsning, or she may choose to chew xylitol chewing gum in the period until the child's first tooth eruption."

He stresses that there is some evidence that dental health in children can be improved if dental staff gives future and new parents information and advice on how to avoid transmission of cariesbakterier for her child.

Parents do not take responsibility for their children's dental health

Two out of five parents defy Dental Association recommendations, and not helping their children to brush teeth, according to a new study by Codan Insurance. According to the survey, nearly one in four children under 11 years today one or more holes in the teeth. Meanwhile, 44 percent of all children eat candy two to three times a week.

Parents do not help with brushing
"Our customers are generally very good to report their children's dental injuries and are actually worried that something happens to their children's teeth, which is very positive. Therefore, it is surprising that many parents have lost interest in brushing their children at a time when kids need most, "says Codan's press chief, Jens Nüchel and indicate that children have permanent teeth as early as 6-years old .

A child's milk teeth are replaced when the child is between six and twelve years. And the child's fine motor skills are not developed enough that it can handle the brushing until the child is about 10 years. Therefore, the recommendation to all parents that they must help the child with tooth brushing until the child is at least 10 years. In the 12-14 year age comes tolvårstænder child who sits behind seksårstænderne. And until the child can keep his teeth clean properly, parents should help with brushing at least once a day.

In Dental Association you are aware of the problem and here is believed that the parents of the so called "zero-hole generation, has placed responsibility for their children's dental health from him, when as many as 40 percent of parents helps children to keep teeth clean.

"The so-called 'null-holes-generation' who grew up with fluoride rinses in school, has become an adult. In this generation there is a tendency to place responsibility for their children's teeth than the dentist, the dentist, which ensures that children do not get holes. Some parents in this generation do not see brushing as something they must perform for their children because so few of them have ever had tooth decay. Dental care is still often placed in schools or are in school, but the intervals between children's dental visits in recent years has increased. Therefore it is more important that parents take their responsibility to help children with brushing until the child is 10-12 years, "says dental consultant in Dental Association Birthe Cortsen.

Parents do not know what that threaten their children's teeth
"Over 60 percent of parents worry about whether children fall and strike the teeth while the real risk of tooth damage is that the parents actually fill their children with sweets. There is an exaggerated fear that their children fall and hurt, "says press chief Jens Nüchel, Codan.

The children eat sugary cases several times a week
Codan Insurance is undergoing a major general survey on child health, among other things, focuses on the Danish 'problems with increasing obesity and poor dental health. One reason seems to be that kids are fed candy from an early infancy.

According to the survey will have three percent of children between 0 and 2 years sweets daily. While 32 percent of this age are fed with sweets, cakes or other sugary cases, two to three times a week.

1 in 10 children aged between 10 and 12 eat sweets daily. And for the 13 to 15 years old children, the figure is 11 percent, while 12 percent of those 16 to 17 year olds eat sweets every day. Overall eat 44 percent of all children sweets two to three times a week.

The survey was conducted from 16 - 18 June 2009. And 1018 respondents participated in the study.

School introduces common brushing morning session

Despite the fact that students in Frøslev Padborg School is good to brush teeth, several of the students comprehensive syreskader on the teeth. The Municipal Dental care now focuses on the problem of the project "Stop Syreskader - and tooth decay", and has introduced common brushing throughout the month of June.

Dentures before the age of 18 years
At Førslev-Padborg school, they have several students who already have severe syreskader on the teeth. Continuing students with the high consumption of sweet drinks, especially colas, many students could wave goodbye to their teeth and say hello to dentures, even before the age of 18 years. There has been syreskader on the teeth of every six children under 18 years and the problem is growing.

Both dentists and dental hygienists can tell you that at Frøslev Padborg school many children who suffer from syreskader. And a possible cause of problems at this school may be due to the city's proximity to the many tempting offers from border stores that sell cheap sweets, juices and sodas in mega sizes.

Project "Stop Syreskader - and tooth decay"
In order to focus on syreskader have the municipal dental shot project "Stop Syreskader" started on Frøslev Padborg School. The project was launched on 2 June with large tandbørstningsdag where all students were given a water bottle, toothbrush and toothpaste. Then there was a single tooth brushing in the great hall.

Common cleaning for morning assembly

The project will continue throughout the month of June, where the municipal dental care will try to focus on syreskader and get brushing on the program every morning. Morning sessions, students continually get more information on how to avoid syreskader.

Every Monday and Thursday's joint brushing while students are allowed to look at a power-point presentation with pictures of syreskader, diet and toothbrush instruction. Brochures and other promotional material handed out also to the students. Like the municipal dental care will be available every Monday and Thursday. There will be other days of the week be common toothbrushing in the classrooms.

At the school library will be for the entire period be an exhibition on food and beverages. In total there will be two exhibitions, one about sugar and a pH of acid in beverages. The project has also created banners, posters and brochures to the students. And a message is also sent to every home in the project.

Frøslev Padborg School will during the period be completely free of juices, sodas and other acidic drinks. And the school canteen, "Boden", the period will only sell water and milk - and other acidic drinks. Parents have also been a call for active participation, like all parents are welcome events.

The project ends on Wednesday 24 June with a single brushing and evaluation of the project. Part of the project "Stop Syreskader - and holes in the teeth" dental care will also use in schools other than Frøslev Padborg School, to the extent feasible.