Pediatric Oral Health Education Pearl City, HI
Pediatric Oral Health Education provided by Our Expert Pediatric Dentists
in Pearl City, HI at Oahu Pediatric Dentistry
Every year, children miss up to 51 million class hours due to poor oral health. They risk missing out on lessons that can affect their future academic performances. There is no better reason to teach these children why it is important to keep their smiles healthy. Pediatric oral health education refers to the process by which pediatric dentists take time to instill good oral habits in their young patients. At Oahu Pediatric Dentistry, our dentist teaches kids about oral health with the hope that the lessons stick with them for life.
Parental Involvement in Pediatric Oral Health Education
Although pediatric dentists conduct preventive dentistry for children, parents must also be involved. The direct involvement of parents in the oral health of their children is key to their overall health and general well-being. Children tend to listen to their parents, and it is up to the parents to introduce, reinforce, and model proper oral health habits that can guide their children into the future.
Importance Of Dental Hygiene For Kids
There are several benefits of having kids learn about dental hygiene as soon as they grow their first teeth. It is important that parents understand these benefits well.
Prevents Diseases
There is a common misconception that it is not important to care for the teeth of children because they will lose them anyway. However, dental care, even for milk teeth, is important because it prevents and stops the start of any oral health issues.
Promotes Proper Dental Development
Children need proper dental hygiene because their teeth, gums, and jaw are still developing and growing daily. Normally, the permanent tooth is the one that pushes out the baby tooth when it is ready to break through the surface of the gum. If the baby tooth is removed or lost before it is ready, the permanent tooth might not be in position. When it finally comes through, it might drift from its location and result in your child having multiple crooked teeth.
Prevents Gum Disease
Gum disease is a common dental issue. However, gum disease is worse for kids. If your child develops gum disease as a result of excessive cavities in their baby teeth, removing the baby teeth does not truly eliminate the gum disease after it has developed. The disease can affect their permanent teeth, too, which is what sets them up for more dental issues later in life. Dental hygiene for children helps prevent a lifetime of dental problems.
It Is Better to Teach Them When They Are Young
Teaching your child how to brush and floss from a very young age creates a foundation for a routine lifestyle. Children thrive with routine, and brushing and flossing frequently is a routine they can live with and enjoy healthy smiles. Kids also tend to file away information in their minds from a young age, and a dental routine is the information they need to remember the most - from as early as possible.
Healthy Smiles, Confident Kids
As an adult, you understand the confidence that comes with a healthy smile. Dental hygiene for children is critical to determine if they have a healthy smile or a crooked smile. Tooth decay, bad breath, and other oral health issues reduce their confidence because other children can make fun of them.
Teaching Kids About Oral Health
As your child approaches the end of their toddler years, you need to increase your teaching efforts so they can understand why oral health is important and how they can achieve that ultimate oral health. Here are a few child-friendly oral health education strategies:
Let Them Take Charge
When your child is old enough to hold a toothbrush, you should let them brush their teeth while you supervise them until they are around 7 or 8 years old and can brush well on their own. You can also get them to a mirror and let them watch themselves brush.
Use a Timer App
It is hard to convince kids that they need to brush their teeth for about two minutes. To make it easy for them, use a toothbrush timer installed on your phone and let your child wait for the time to go off before they can rinse out the toothpaste from their mouth.
Teach by Example
You should brush alongside your child. They will see how to brush and learn how to hold their toothbrush properly and how to move the bristles along the surfaces of the teeth. Let them watch you as you demonstrate the right way to hold the dental floss when flossing your teeth.
Educate on the Dangers of Not Brushing
If your child understands the consequences, he or she might take brushing and flossing seriously. You can use modern technology to show them non-threatening images of cavities and tooth decay. Be careful not to scare them or use negative words, especially related to pain, when talking about the dentist. Just give them an overview of how proper oral hygiene will keep them safe from such occurrences.
Pediatric Dental Education Resources
There are several early childhood dental education resources you can use to teach proper oral health to your kids. Here is a list of a few resources:
Activity Sheets for Fun
There are several resources you can use to educate your kids on proper oral hygiene. For example, your child can have a brushing calendar where they will tick every day off after brushing their teeth. Other resources include a tooth fairy sheet, sugar wars, puzzles, and much more.
Protect Tiny Teeth
The American Academy of Pediatrics developed a free resource tool kit called Protect Tiny Teeth. This resource is designed to educate families about the value of oral health during the early years. It includes videos, posters, brochures, and infographics printed in different languages to make it suitable for a diverse population.
Brush, Book, Bed
The Brush, Book, and Bed program contains simple and clear messages for parents. It can help your child brush their teeth, read a book or two, and get to bed at a specific time every night. The program is suitable for children from birth to six years, and it includes messages about sleep patterns, nighttime routines, and early literacy, in addition to helping your child stick to a specific dental routine.
Get Pediatric Oral Health Education from Us
Early childhood dental education is critical for promoting dental health in children. Visit us at Oahu Pediatric Dentistry and learn more about oral care tips for kids. Contact us at (808) 456-4555 to schedule an appointment today. |