Children visit the dentist far too infrequently

Have you seen it in the news? In Leiden, a quarter of children under 18 have never
been to the dentist. And the national figures are not very encouraging either: 20% of
children never go for a dental check-up. Among toddlers, these percentages are even
higher. Dentists and health insurers consider this a negative trend because you can't start
visiting the dentist too early.

Brushing well and not eating too many sweets contribute to healthy teeth in children. But that is not
enough. Regular check-ups at the dentist are also essential. Research by Zilveren Kruis among
their insured shows that only 37% of children between 2 and 4 years old go for a dental check-up.
From the age of 4, this percentage rises significantly to 80%, but by then it is often
too late. Due to poor brushing and, for example, sweets and juice boxes full of sugar,
toddlers develop cavities. In the worst case, teeth may even need to be extracted.

What can you do as a parent?
Even though your child is still changing teeth: the milk teeth are the foundation of good dental health. Cavities in the
milk teeth can cause problems later. Unfortunately, many parents do not know how important it is
to take good care of their child's teeth. Brush the teeth twice a day: in the morning and in the evening. Also limit
the number of eating and drinking moments per day so that the tooth enamel has enough time to
recover after a sandwich or a glass of lemonade. In general, it is recommended to limit the
number of eating and drinking moments in a day for a healthy set of teeth in children to
a maximum of 7. Additionally, a visit to the dentist is also of great importance.

At what age should you go to the dentist?
Do children under four really need to go to the dentist? Absolutely. A dentist can intervene
in time when necessary. Did you know that children can visit the dentist from as early as 1.5 to 2 years old?
Naturally, visiting the dentist can be daunting. That is why children often go for the first time
with their father or mother to see what it's like in the dentist's chair.
From around the age of 2, the first real check-up will take place. What exactly does the dentist do? For young
children, the focus is mainly on checking if the development of the teeth is on track, and parents receive
advice and information.

Costs are covered
What many parents also do not know is that the costs for a dental visit for children are generally
covered by the basic insurance. The costs parents incur for
check-ups, fillings, and even root canal treatments for their children are, for example,
covered. Do you want to know what is and isn't covered? You can always
check with your dentist.

During the first aid workshop, you will learn, among other things, what to do if a milk tooth is broken or knocked out in an accident. Would you like to know what to do? Sign up via the course page .