Baby teeth brushing pain

Here's what you need to know about brushing baby teeth.

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Hi, it's Fabienne from Zurich. I have a little one and ask myself daily if I am getting her mouth hygiene right. I will share with you some pragmatic advice from our pediatrician… More on that in a moment, but first ...  Today's must-reads Mail-order marijuana phamacies generate billions in Germany. Novo surges after Hims & Hers abandons Wegovy pill copycat. China wants better weather forecasts for drones, flying taxis. Cavities are declining but parents still worry Every night, I become my daughter's personal clown. I sing the most ridiculous songs, let her spell the alphabet with me, make up stories about her stuffies desperately needing better mouth hygiene, and let her grab all my bath utensils to keep her hands busy. The entertainment, though, lasts only about two minutes and has one sole purpose: to get my 21-month-old to open her mouth long enough for me to brush her teeth. And still, every time I wonder: Was it long enough? Have I done a good enough job? Can I spare her the fate of toothache? Teeth hygiene has become a big worry for millennial parents like me. Although cavities in children aged two to five have declined over the past decades, we still seem haunted by statistics — and by our own dentist bills. Public health education and early prevention measures have led to generally better teeth, but also created more concern around the topic. Baby teeth matter more than many people think. They are essential for chewing, overall health, and normal development — especially in children with underlying illnesses. Preventing cavities in baby teeth is crucial for lifelong oral health, as tooth decay is painful, largely preventable, and often not covered by health insurance once treatment is needed. In Switzerland, where I live, it's recommended to start mouth hygiene as early as three months, when the first teeth begin to show. To get babies used to the routine, supermarkets sell soft finger toothbrushes, which look more like massage toys than dental tools. No sugar goes without saying. But my daughter's bottle lasted well beyond her first birthday and that can be a problem too. Prolonged bottle drinking can lead to cavities because the liquid sits on the teeth while the child sleeps and saliva flow (which would normally wash sugars away) drops. Guilt (an emotion new parents feel often!) was my companion again last night too, when we gave her a bottle after she had already brushed her teeth because she wouldn't fall asleep for more than half an hour. Taking your baby or toddler to the dentist is, of course, advisable and once children reach school age there are a number of programs in Switzerland that aim to encourage cavity prevention, ranging from vouchers to school dental visits. When it comes to toothpaste, I got a little worried when I read that fluoride is good for teeth but may be bad for brain development. I once had a proper argument with my husband after I saw he'd put more than the recommended rice-grain-sized amount of toothpaste on our daughter's brush. I later learned there's no scientific evidence that a little too much toothpaste leads to a lower IQ. While writing this newsletter, I also learned that it's a myth that baby teeth are "too healthy" nowadays and don't fall out in time to be replaced by adult teeth. I definitely fell for that one — probably something I absorbed from an Instagram story or two. Our pediatrician only smiled mildly when we recently asked him about mouth hygiene. He didn't care about brushing length, technique, or specific products. His advice: Just buy a children's toothbrush and any fluoride-containing toothpaste, and every tooth touched is a win. — Fabienne Kinzelmann What we're reading Polar bears on Norwegian islands fatter and healthier despite ice loss, scientists say, according to BBC News. TrumpRx claims to offer the lowest prices. But many drugs have cheaper generics, reports Stat. Night owls may have worse heart health than larks, according to a study in the Journal of the American Heart Association. Contact Prognosis Health questions? Have a tip that we should investigate? Contact us at AskPrognosis@bloomberg.net. Follow us You received this message because you are subscribed to Bloomberg's Prognosis newsletter. If a friend forwarded you this message, sign up here to get it in your inbox. Unsubscribe Bloomberg.com Contact Us Bloomberg L.P. 731 Lexington Avenue New York, NY 10022 |