Habits and Routines in Oral Hygiene
Oral health is an important component of a child’s health! Cavities and tooth decay, also known as dental caries, can result from a lack of access to oral care. A study by Krol & Whelan (2022) found that dental caries occur commonly during childhood.
About 25% of children between the ages of 2 and 5 and over 50% of children between the ages of 6 and 8 have dental caries (Krol & Whelan, 2022).
If dental caries are left untreated, they can lead to multiple issues such as oral pain, decreased school attendance, trouble concentrating when completing daily tasks, decreased self-confidence, and potentially increased health risks into adulthood (Mahat & Bowen, 2017). Implementing healthy habits and routines for your child's oral care can help benefit their overall health and prevent the form of dental caries.
Oral Care at Home:
Encourage your child to create their daily routine and keep it consistent. It can help them know what to expect when it is time to brush their teeth.
Give them the option of when they would like to brush their teeth. An example would be if they would like to brush their teeth before or after getting dressed.
Make brushing your child’s teeth fun! Some ideas include seeing who can brush their teeth the longest or t brushing each other's teeth.
A mirror is a great tool so your child can look inside their mouth while brushing their teeth.
If your child has trouble with toothpaste due to flavor or texture, start with a dry or wet brush. Brushing teeth creates friction which helps clean the teeth!
Preparing/Transitioning to Oral Care Task:
Fidget toys or comfort items are different tools used to help your child ease their way into transitions from one activity to the next.
If the bathroom is overwhelming for your child, you can use the kitchen sink as an alternative place to brush their teeth.
Start with facial rubbing on the cheeks -they can watch you or participate. Washcloths can be used for texture or an electric toothbrush for vibration.
Let them turn the water on and adjust the temperature to what they prefer to promote their independence.
A storybook can help teach your child how to brush their teeth and can be read before they do the task - check out the one linked below!
This book is interactive where your child can participate along with the story
(Childress & Smalley, 2022; Schoenwald & Glowiak, 2022).
Healthy Eating Habits:
Crunchy foods like celery, carrots, and apples are some foods that help keep the teeth clean and healthy as they can help remove bacteria that stick to the teeth (The Kids Dentist, n.d.).
Some foods that are saturated with water like melons, pears, and cucumbers can also help clean the teeth (The Kids Dentist, n.d.).
Tracking the Progress:
Use a tracker to help your child build and maintain healthy habits - and don’t forget to use positive affirmations along the way!
A toothbrushing tracker can be placed in the bathroom or any spot where your child can see it as a reminder to do the task. This can also help your child feel motivated and excited by the tasks they have already accomplished. Their independence, autonomy, and self-confidence can also be enhanced as it shows how much they have progressed and accomplished when completing this task!
Check out our toothbrushing tracker below! A tracker can be reused week after week by placing Velcro on each day. That way your child can stick a star on the days they have completed brushing their teeth. (To download the toothbrushing tracker, click on the photos below!)
(Boudreault, 2023)
References
Boudreault, J. (2023). 6 ways to build healthy habits from an early age. Milltown Dental. https://www.milltowndental.com/blog/dental-care-for-children-6-ways-to-build-healthy-habits-from-an-early-age/
Childress, A., & Smalley, H. (2022). Pediatric oral care at home and at the dentist: How to prepare your child with spd | pt services. https://www.ptsrehab.com/pediatric-oral-care-at-home-and-at-the-dentist-how-to-prepare-your-child-with-spd/
Krol, D. M., & Whelan, K. (2022). Maintaining and improving the oral health of young children. Pediatrics, 151(1), e2022060417. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2022-060417
Mahat, G., & Bowen, F. (2017). Parental knowledge about urban preschool children’s oral health risk. Pediatric Nursing, 43, 30–34. https://www.researchwithrutgers.com/en/publications/parental-knowledge-about-urban-preschool-childrens-oral-health-ri
Freepik. (n.d.). Premium vector: Set of cute teeth characters with kawaii faces. children’s teeth health concept. vector illustration. Freepik. https://www.freepik.com/premium-vector/set-cute-teeth-characters-with-kawaii-faces-children-s-teeth-health-concept-vector-illustration_38954789.htm
Schoenwald, S., & Glowiak, G. (2022). Help the Lion Brush His Teeth! https://www.amazon.com/Help-Lion-Brush-His-Teeth/dp/3963260009/ref=pd_lpo_sccl_2/140-6163433-3937769?pd_rd_w=UB6CV&content-id=amzn1.sym.4c8c52db-06f8-4e42-8e56-912796f2ea6c&pf_rd_p=4c8c52db-06f8-4e42-8e56-912796f2ea6c&pf_rd_r=8ZBHB2D6VYBA9R2ZG321&pd_rd_wg=IGe5L&pd_rd_r=98e5890b-f95e-48b3-ab0b-777633865728&pd_rd_i=3963260009&psc=1
The Kids Dentist. (n.d.). Eating healthy to promote strong teeth in children. The Kids Dentist. https://www.thekidsdentistmequon.com/dental-topic/eating-healthy-to-promote-strong-teeth-in-children/#:~:text=Fruits%20and%20vegetables%3A%20Crunchy%2C%20raw,teeth%20and%20promote%20overall%20health.