The American Dental Association (ADA) sponsors the National Children’s Dental Health Month (NCDHM) and this year’s theme is “Brush and clean in between to build a healthy smile.”
The oral cavity has the ability to neutralize the adverse effects of caries causing bacteria via the pH buffering capabilities of saliva; however, with the elevated sugar content of today’s diet (soda, cookies, cakes etc) this buffering system can get overwhelmed. For this reason adequate (at least 2 minutes per session) and frequent (at least twice per day) oral hygiene sessions are of utmost importance.
A soft bristled toothbrush should be utilized for the oral hygiene session. Teeth should be brushed in a circular and gentle motion with which all teeth are cleaned. A pea sized amount of toothpaste should be used for children 6 years or older, a rice grain amount for children 3 to 6 years of age, and a pin point amount for those below the age of 3.
Flossing is another important aspect of the oral hygiene session especially for those children with “Hollywood smiles.” Hollywood smiles are smiles in which all the teeth contact. In these kinds of dentition, a toothbrush will not be able to get in between the teeth and those areas end up neglected. Flossing helps keep the areas in between teeth clean and free of plaque harboring bacteria. To floss properly, watch a youtube video or visit your local dentist for proper instructions. To surmise floss in an up and down motion with the floss in contact with the tooth or teeth bordering the space in which the floss is in.
Activity sheets and other resources are available at your local dentist or from the ADA website (ada.org/en/public-programs/nationalchildrens-dental-health-month).