Good oral health in children is important for food, speech development, general health and self-esteem. The National Survey of CS Mott Children’s Hospital on children’s health asked a national sample of parents of children aged 4 to 17 on oral health practices.
By reporting what oral hygiene practices her child All or most daysMost parents say their child brushes their teeth twice a day (64%) and brushes for at least 2 minutes (59%); Fewer parents say that their child cleanses their language (35%), dental silk (23%), uses a foul or rinse with fluorine (22%), or rinse the mouth with water after consuming Foods or sugary drinks (15%). Only 20% of parents say that their child makes 4 to 6 of these oral hygiene practices All or most days Compared to 41% saying 2-3 practices and 38% reporting 0-1 practices. Parents report less oral hygiene practices for boys than girls.
More than a third of parents (36%) point out that their child has experienced dental problems linked to oral hygiene in the past two years, including dental cavities / caries (29%), discolored or colored teeth (7%), dental pain / sensitivity (6%) or gum problems (3%). These dental problems are linked to the frequency to which children perform recommended oral hygiene practices: parents reporting that their child makes 0-1 Oral hygiene practices All or most days44% report dental problems, compared to 31% when children perform 2 to 3 practices and 28% when children perform 4 to 6 practices on All or most days.
More than a third of parents (36%) have noticed that their child has a bad breath, which is more common for children who make 0-1 oral hygiene practices All or most days. Parents attribute their child’s bad breath to various causes: “morning breath” (77%), lack of brushing / silk wire (47%), smelly food (23%), oral breathing (19%), Dental problems (8%), disease (6%), or side effects of drugs (4%). Most parents (85%) have addressed their child’s bad breath, for example by brushing them more often (82%), use the foul rinses (36%), dental silk more often (23%), Go to the dentist / doctor (16%), chew gum / eat halear mints (15%) or change their diet (5%).
Most parents (89%) say that the most recent visit to their child’s dentist was in the past year, vs 7% saying that it was 1 to 2 years ago and 4% saying that it was Over 2 years ago. Parents reporting that their child is making 0-1 Oral hygiene tasks All or most days are more likely to say that their child has not had a dental visit for over a year.
Strengths
- Only 3 in 5 parents say their child regularly brushes their teeth twice a day.
- Parents report that fewer boys than girls brush and brush regularly.
- 1 in 3 parents noticed that their child suffered from bad breath.
Implications
Good dental health and hygiene are essential, especially in childhood, when lifestyle is formed. Bad oral hygiene can cause problems such as cavities, dental caries and gum disease, making children difficult to eat and speak clearly. Other oral health problems, such as discolored teeth and bad breath, can be embarrassing for children and cause low self-esteem.
Regular oral hygiene tasks are essential for good oral health. The central component is to brush the teeth at least twice a day, for at least two minutes, to eliminate food and the plate that accumulate after eating sweet foods. Brushing also maintains healthy gums. More than a third of the parents of this Mott survey have reported that their child does not regularly reach this basic oral hygiene level. Other oral hygiene tasks are also important to prevent the accumulation of plaque. Dental silk at least once a day dislodges pieces of food stuck between teeth where a toothbrush cannot reach; If it is left, pieces of food can host bacteria that cause dental caries, gum disease or bad breath. Similarly, regular cleaning of the tongue by brushing or scratching eliminates bacteria which can cause bad breath or infections.
In many families, oral hygiene tasks are not a routine habit for children or parents. It is useful to build oral hygiene in a daily routine. Brushing is generally done in the morning and before bedtime; However, they are often hectic times while family members rush to go out in the morning or parents encourage children to go to bed. To ensure coherent oral hygiene, parents must be built every morning and evening for brushing and other oral hygiene tasks.
It is important that children have regular dental visits to check and respond to all signs of dental caries. Dentists can explain to children how dental caries take place and emphasize where children are doing a good job with oral hygiene and where they have to improve. Often this will motivate children to pay more attention to oral hygiene. Dentists can recommend services to prevent dental caries, such as dental seals, which are thin plastic coatings painted on rear chewing surfaces.
Training oral hygiene habits at the start of childhood is the key to lifetime oral health. At first, parents will have to check that children brush and brush themselves properly, but children can quickly take on these tasks. Parents can support the development of good oral health habits by allowing children to choose a toothbrush in a favorite color, using reward graphics to strengthen consistency and by modeling their own good habits. Parents can also choose products that facilitate oral hygiene, such as toothbrushes with tongue scrapers or different tools for dental silk.
As children age, parents are less involved in personal hygiene tasks, but can always support oral health by reminding children brushing and dental silk, and being a model in their own oral hygiene. In addition, parents can ensure that children have the tools they need, including a toothbrush that is replaced every 3 to 4 months, as well as dental silk options. Oral hygiene can be particularly difficult when children have hugs or other devices; The orthodontist can offer suggestions.
Even with coherent brushing in the morning and before bedtime, children can spend the day allowing food and sugars to accumulate on the teeth. Parents can teach children to limit damage by rinsing their mouths with water after consuming food or sugary drinks.
Finally, many parents have questions about fluoride. Fluoride has been shown to prevent dental caries by making the enamel stronger and more resistant to the effects of the plate; This is particularly important during childhood when the teeth develop. Fluoride is naturally found in water, but at too low levels to prevent dental caries; Thus, in many communities, fluoride is added to the water supply. Fluoride is also found in certain brands of toothpaste, in fluorine rinsing and in fluorine applications at the dental office. Parents may want to speak with their child’s dentist to make sure their child gets enough but not too much fluoride.