September 26, 2020, 3:34 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Some people regularly face major dental procedures. Others seem to be luckier: Cavities and periodontal disease are foreign words to them–even though they don’t do anything better in dental care. FITBOOK asked an expert why some people have more or less luck with their teeth.
There are people who only go to the dentist for check-ups or maybe a whitening session. Others have to go more often–and can expect painful and sometimes lengthy treatments each time. Assuming everyone knows the basics of dental hygiene, which includes brushing twice a day and using interdental brushes or floss: What determines whether people have more or less luck with their teeth?
Overview
Inherited Factors Affecting Dental Health
The Frankfurt dentist Dr. Kurt Müller reports on various factors that can influence the quality of dental substance. For instance, there is a “genetic immune deficiency against forms of anaerobes,” or certain types of bacteria. This predisposition can lead to pathological consequences, including the breakdown of the periodontal apparatus.
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Parents Influence Luck or Misfortune with Teeth
The tendency to develop cavities can apparently also stem from too much motherly love. Müller: “Primary cavities result from the transmission of bacteria from the mother to the child.” This occurs through oral contact. Therefore, kissing on the mouth should be avoided.
And another thing: In places where no glucose is consumed, there are no cavities. Whether children often have “holes in their teeth” is also related to diet and can thus be influenced by parents.
In this context, here are some more useful tips for parents. Excessive fluoride intake in childhood, such as from too frequent administration of fluoride tablets, can cause dental fluorosis. This dental condition, also known as “Texas Teeth,” is characterized by discoloration and unsightly spots on the teeth. The dental fluorosis has affected the development of the enamel.
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With Fluoride, the Dose Makes the Poison
Correct: Fluoride is extremely important for healthy teeth–and that starts during development. However, parents should ensure that the recommended total intake is not exceeded. From the age of two, children’s baby teeth should be brushed with a pea-sized amount of fluoride-containing children’s toothpaste in the morning and evening. Once the first permanent teeth appear, they should be brushed twice daily with adult toothpaste. The recommended amount is 1,000 ppm (parts per million) of fluoride.
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Tooth Discoloration as a Side Effect of Antibiotics
There are also medications that can change the color of teeth, such as those from the tetracycline class of antibiotics. “Tetracyclines form so-called chelates with calcium, which are irreversibly deposited in enamel, dentin, and cementum during odontogenesis (prenatal tooth development, ed. note), leading to tooth discoloration,” according to an article in the “Pharmazeutische Zeitung.” Therefore, tetracyclines are unsuitable for children, as well as for pregnant women and nursing mothers.
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Conclusion: Strictly speaking, one cannot talk about “luck” with teeth. Rather, parents should be aware that they can influence their children’s dental health early on–both positively and negatively.