Bright smiles: Protecting children's oral health

(NC) Did you know tooth decay is the most prevalent, preventable chronic disease among children worldwide? Ensuring children maintain good oral health is essential for their overall well-being. Not only do healthy teeth and gums support proper chewing and speaking, but establishing proper oral hygiene habits early on can prevent tooth decay along with bad breath and gum disease.

Here are 3 key strategies to improve your child’s oral health:

1. Create a daily oral hygiene routine.
   Prevent cavities by encouraging regular brushing and flossing. Children should brush their teeth twice a day with a small amount of fluoride toothpaste to help strengthen tooth enamel and prevent decay. Children under 3 years old should use an amount similar to the size of a grain of rice. For children 3 years and older, the amount of toothpaste should be similar to that of a pea. They should also clean between their teeth daily using floss or interdental brushes. If your child isn’t old enough to do all of these things correctly on their own, you can help them until they are old enough to do so.

2. Encourage healthy eating.
   What children eat also plays a significant role in their oral health. Limiting sugary snacks and drinks can reduce their risk of cavities. Instead, opt for nutritious snacks like fruits, vegetables and cheese, and offer water throughout the day to help wash away food particles and bacteria that lead to cavities.

3. Have regular oral health care appointments.
   Scheduling regular appointments with an oral health professional is crucial to your child’s overall health. Dental hygienists can provide preventive treatments such as fluoride varnish and dental sealants, which offer additional protection against cavities. Dental sealants are thin coatings applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth, where cavities are most likely to form. They last for many years.

By encouraging good oral hygiene habits early on and making healthy dietary choices, parents and caregivers can help children maintain bright, healthy smiles for life.

Learn more at dentalhygienecanada.ca/kids