Children's toothpaste

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Children's toothpaste , even children's toothpaste , is a specifically for infants developed and children up to the age of twelve years paste or cream for mechanical liberation of the teeth of plaque ( dental plaque ) by means of a toothbrush , for cleaning and care of the mouth of bacteria and thus to protect of teeth from carious attack (see article toothpaste ).

Differences to conventional toothpastes

Toothpastes for children differ mainly in the ingredients from conventional toothpastes offered for cleaning adult teeth . A distinction is made between “children's” toothpastes (up to an age of about six years, when the first permanent teeth appear) and “junior” toothpastes (up to the age of twelve).

Fluoride , an essential component of many toothpastes, which serves as a mineral to balance the enamel damaged by caries and is therefore used to protect the teeth, can be found in "children's" toothpastes in a reduced concentration of approx. 500-1000 ppm ( parts per million , parts of a million) and in "Junior" toothpastes up to a concentration of approx. 1400 ppm (for comparison: conventional toothpastes for adults usually have a fluoride content of approx. 1500 ppm).

Furthermore, children's toothpastes often have fewer abrasive particles to generate mechanical abrasion on the tooth surface, since excessive abrasion of the children's soft enamel can lead to health problems. Children's toothpastes are often available in mild flavors that are more popular with children , such as strawberry or cherry. The use of spicy essential oils to create a feeling of "freshness" or for supporting disinfection such as peppermint oil or, for example, eucalyptus extract is generally avoided.

Fluoride reduction

Discussions on the harmful effects of fluoride in children's toothpastes

The fluoride reduction is based on recommendations for the consumption of fluoride for children and infants, but also on the general scientific knowledge that too high fluoride concentrations lead to aesthetic and health impairments, such as white enamel spots on the tooth surface, or even to poisoning of the organism through the effect of fluoride compounds as accumulative toxins . In particular, the additional intake of fluoride in children can disrupt their growing organism. Information on the use and dose of the paste contained therein are printed on the tubes of the pastes themselves , which in particular point out a possible overdose of the agent in small children .

The additional intake of fluoride by infants and children is an often controversial topic in the past. Critics strictly advise against the artificial ingestion of fluoride in children and infants, as they even attribute fluoride to a neurotoxic effect . Scientists of neuronal studies on neuronal development disorders caused by toxins indicate that the likelihood of neurotoxicity of fluoride, especially at high doses, cannot be negated, despite the stimulating effect of the trace element on tissue. Proponents point to the protective effect of fluoride on tooth enamel and see fluoridation of the teeth as an essential process for caries prophylaxis.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Stiftung Warentest: Children's toothpaste in the test - from very good to poor - test - Stiftung Warentest. Retrieved April 7, 2018 .
  2. ↑ Stiftung Warentest: Toothpaste - The best toothpaste for your teeth - Test - Stiftung Warentest. Retrieved April 7, 2018 .
  3. ↑ a b Hellwig, Prof. Dr. E., Schiffner, Prof. Dr. U., Schulte, Prof. Dr. A., Fluoridation measures for caries prophylaxis Ed .: National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Dentists, Center for Dental Quality (ZZQ), Association of the German Chamber of Dentists e. V.
  4. ↑ http://www.kzbv.de/zzq-pi-fluoridierungsmassätze-kariespraevention.download.619606bb1de0291740eaa67de56d4cc5.pdf
  5. ↑ Hellwig, Prof. Dr. E., Schiffner, Prof. Dr. U., Schulte, Prof. Dr. A., Fluoridation measures for caries prophylaxis Ed .: National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Dentists, Center for Dental Quality (ZZQ), Working Group of the German Dental Chambers eV http://www.kzbv.de/zzq-pi-fluoridierungsmassätze-kariespraevention.download.619606bb1de0291740eaa67de56d4df [pdf] .
  6. ^ Philippe Grandjean, Philip J Landrigan: Neurodevelopmental toxicity: still more questions than answers - Authors' response . In: The Lancet Neurology . tape 13 , no. 7 , July 1, 2014, ISSN  1474-4422 , doi : 10.1016 / S1474-4422 (14) 70121-8 ( thelancet.com [accessed April 7, 2018]).
  7. ^ Philippe Grandjean, Philip J Landrigan: Neurodevelopmental toxicity: still more questions than answers - Authors' response . In: The Lancet Neurology . tape 13 , no. 7 , July 1, 2014, ISSN  1474-4422 , doi : 10.1016 / S1474-4422 (14) 70121-8 ( thelancet.com [accessed April 7, 2018]).