by Good oral health in children is important for food, speech development, general health and self -respect. The CS Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health asked a national sample of parents of children aged 4-17 about oral health practices.
When reporting which oral hygiene practices all or most daysMost parents say that their child brushes their teeth twice a day (64%) and the brushing for at least 2 minutes (59%); Fewer parents say that their child cleans their tongue (35%), flossing (23%), makes mouthwash or fluoride rinsing (22%), or rins their mouths with water after consuming sugary foods or drinks (15%). Only 20% of the parents say that their child does 4-6 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%) report that their child has encountered dental problems with regard to oral hygiene in the last two years, including cavities/tooth decay (29%), discolored or colored teeth (7%), tooth pain/sensitivity (6%) or gum problems (3%). These dental problems are linked to how often children perform recommended dental hygiene practices: from parents who report that their child does 0-1 oral hygiene practices all or most days44% report dental problems, compared to 31% when children perform 2-3 practices and 28% when children perform 4-6 practices all or most days.
More than a third of the parents (36%) have noticed that their child has bad breath, which is more common for children who do 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/flossing (47%), Stinking food (23%), mouth breathing (19%), Dental problems (8%) , illness (6%) or side effect of medication (4%). Most parents (85%) have tackled their child’s bad breath, as by having them brushed more often (82%), mouthwash (36%), floss more often (23%), to dentist/doctor (16%) too Use, chewing gum/eat ademmuntjes (15%), or change their diet (5%).
Most parents (89%) say that their child’s most recent dental visit was last year, versus 7% that it was 1-2 years ago and 4% said it was more than 2 years ago. Parents who report their child performs 0-1 oral hygiene tasks all or most days more likely to say that their child has not had a dental visit for more than a year.
Highlights
- Only 3 in 5 parents say that their child regularly brushes their teeth twice a day.
- Parents report that fewer boys than girls regularly brush and floss.
- 1 in 3 parents have noticed that their child has bad breath.
Implications
Correct dental health and hygiene are essential, especially in childhood when lifelong habits are formed. Poor oral hygiene can lead to problems such as cavities, tooth decay and gum disorders, making it difficult for children 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 tasks for oral hygiene are essential for good oral health. The core component includes brushing the teeth at least twice a day, for at least two minutes, to remove food and plaque that builds up after eating sugary food. Brushen also keeps the gums healthy. More than a third of the parents in this MOTT survey reported that their child did not regularly reach this basic level of oral hygiene. Other tasks for oral hygiene are also important to prevent plaque building. Flossing at least once a day disguins pieces of food that are stuck between the teeth where a toothbrush cannot reach; If left, the food bits can accommodate bacteria that cause tooth decay, gum disease or bad breath. Simply cleansing the tongue regularly cleansing or scraping, bacteria away that can cause bad breath or infections.
In many families, tasks for oral hygiene are not routine habit for children or parents. It is useful to build oral hygiene in a daily routine. Brushing is usually done in the morning and before bedtime; However, these are often hectic times, because family members hurry to leave the house in the morning or encourage parents to go to bed. To guarantee consistent oral hygiene, parents have to build on time every morning and evening to brush and other oral hygiene tasks.
It is important that children regularly have dental visits to check and tackle signs of tooth decay. Dentists can explain to children how tooth decay occurs and point out where children do good work with oral hygiene and where they should improve. Often this will motivate children to pay more attention to oral hygiene. Dentists can recommend services to prevent tooth decay, such as dental sealing agents, which are thin plastic coatings that have been dyed on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth.
Forming oral hygiene habits early in childhood is the key to lifelong oral health. In the beginning, parents must check whether children are brushing and being correct, but children can take these tasks quickly. Parents can support the development of good oral health habits by allowing children to choose a toothbrush in a favorite color, by using reward diagrams to strengthen consistency and by modeling their own good habits. Parents can also choose products that make oral hygiene easier, such as toothbrushes with tongue scrapers or different flossing tools.
As children get older, parents are less involved in personal hygiene tasks, but they can still support oral health by reminding children of brushing and flossing, and being a role 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 3-4 months, as well as options for flossing. Oral hygiene can be particularly challenging when children have brackets or other devices; The orthodontist can give suggestions.
Even with consistent brushing in the morning and before bedtime, children can go through the day, allowing food and sugars to be built on the teeth. Parents can teach children to limit the damage by rinsing their mouths with water after consuming sugary foods or drinks.
Finally, many parents have questions about fluoride. Fluoride has been shown to prevent the tooth decay by making the glaze stronger and more resistant to the effects of plaque; This is especially important during childhood when teeth develop. Fluoride is naturally found in water, but at levels too low to prevent tooth decay; In many communities, fluoride is therefore added to the water supply. Fluoride is also found in some brands of toothpaste, in fluoride floors and in fluoride applications at the dentist’s office. Parents may want to talk to their child’s dentist about ensuring that their child gets enough, but not too much fluoride.
