National Children’s Dental Health Month is observed every year in February. Dental professionals and community members are continuously promoting good oral hygiene for children to their parents and guardians. Proper dental care starts with those initial habits that are built as soon as the child starts obtaining teeth.
Demetra Jones has been practicing general dentistry in South Dallas for 25 years, and she’s a member of the American Dental Association, Texas Dental Association, National Dental Association, and the Dallas County Dental Society. She shared how the exchange of dental knowledge for kids is generational for most; children will pick up on what they’ve seen their parents do for their own teeth.
According to a 2023 report from the American Dental Association, only 39% of adults actually went to the dentist in 2021 compared to the 50% of seniors and children who visited.
“Whatever the parent has experienced from a dental standpoint, a lot of times, that’s what’s transferred to the child,” Jones said.
Here are five tips to help children and their loved ones achieve a healthier smile and become more mindful of their dental health.
You can start earlier than you think with your child’s teeth cleaning journey
When it comes to protecting and caring for your children’s dental health, starting early can help prevent life-long issues. Once children are six months, it’s recommended to start cleaning their gums twice a day using a small, wet and clean cloth, even if no teeth have shown up yet. After drinking milk, babies still have bacteria that needs to be flushed out. This helps build a habit for parents to actually get in the practice of doing something every day for your child’s oral care.
As the Center for Disease Control and Prevention suggests, once the babies transition to their childhood stage, they can brush their teeth everyday with fluoride toothpaste. However, this is just the initial actions that need to be taken in order for the children to start brushing without supervision.
Educate while building a routine; Try to switch up the child’s location when it comes to flossing
Brushing and flossing are two of the main actions needed in a child’s pursuit for clean and healthy teeth. Jones said it is fundamental for parents to teach their children how to brush in the morning and at night. Salivary glands aren’t functioning as much when people are sleeping, and that’s why when people wake up, they experience that odd taste in their mouths known as morning breath, so it’s imperative for the parent to coach children in this process of learning and improving their teeth cleaning routines.
Children should be flossing daily for two to three minutes. Even with flossing, Jones suggests getting your children in the habit of flossing while either watching TV or on the computer instead of in front of the mirror to stop children from trying to rush through the process.
According to a national survey from Delta Dental, 45% of parents are more likely to say getting their child to floss regularly is more challenging than getting their child to make the bed or to finish homework on time.
“Before you know it, you’re doing it efficiently, and it’s not something that you’re timing in the sense that you’re trying to rush it and get out the bathroom,” Jones said.
Fluoride can be beneficial; Bottled water isn’t always the way to go
Parents have expressed their concerns surrounding fluoride use for children when it comes to dental care. Jones clarified that fluoride is actually used to strengthen the enamel, and it can be obtained using tap water. Instead of having children just drink bottled water, exposing them to tap water with that particular mineral can help with cavity prevention.
According to the CDC, “Drinking tap water with fluoride rebuilds the surface of the tooth. By keeping the tooth strong and solid, fluoride protects teeth from decay.”
Fluoride varnish is something the CDC has cited can stop about 33% of cavities from forming in baby teeth. Fluoride can be what a child needs to combat acid attacks.
Diet is important, but children will only take what their parents give them
A child’s diet does rely heavily on what the parent is exposing them to, so ensuring you make conscious dietary choice for your family can leave a lasting effect on their dental health. If your child only drinks juice, is excessive with unhealthy food items and rarely sees their parent drinking water, it makes it harder for them to implement good eating habits into their lives.
The American Dental Center shared how items with less sugar are ideal for a healthy and well-balanced diet for children, and eating from the five food groups can contribute to strong, clean teeth.
Frequently visit the dentist
Children should be going to dental examinations every six months because dentists should be able to catch and stop certain habits they’ve noticed that parents may overlook. While doing dental work for a young patient, Jones noticed the child had markings on her teeth from the pencil she said she would chew on at school, which was something the parents happened to miss that a dental professional was able to discover.
According to the CDC, from 2019 to 2020, the percentage of children ages 1-17 who had been to a dental appointment or cleaning in the past 12 months has seen a decrease from nearly 84% to almost 81%. Jones said that it all begins with the parents taking the initiative to bring children to these appointments.
Parents pass along the knowledge and practices they know, so if consistent visits to the dentist were not significantly pushed for the parent, it may be harder for them to enforce that discipline for their child. However, it’s never too late for parents to find that dental home for them and their children. Taking the time to search for that dental firm that best serves you and your child is what’s needed to ensure your child’s oral health is being handled adequately, and it can help you stay more involved in and on track with your kid’s hygiene.