Dental Hygiene in Children Dionne Harding March 21, 2021 PUBH 6128-3-Biological Foundations of Public Health Prepared for parents This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC Key Points What is good dental hygiene? The importance of practicing good dental hygiene. How can parents ensure children are practicing good dental hygiene? What are the possible health consequences of poor dental hygiene? What educational resources are available for parents? Benefits of regular visits to the dentist. What are the consequences of poor dental hygiene? 1. Cavities or dental carries are one of the most chronic childhood diseases in the United States. Untreated cavities can lead to issues with eating, speaking and playing in addition to pain. 2. Gum disease (an infection or swelling of the gums), halitosis (bad breath) and plaque (a white-ish substance that sticks to teeth when food is mixed with bacteria) are also consequences of poor dental hygiene. 3. Teeth in poor condition can lead to self-confidence issues and child could become introverted. 4. Poor dental hygiene during childhood can lead to poor dental hygiene in adulthood. 5. Poor dental hygiene has been linked to cardiovascular problems. How are dental cavities formed? Bacteria in plaque produces acids that stick to teeth and breaks down enamel over time forming a cavity. A cavity is a permanently damaged area in the hard surface of the tooth that eventually leads to little holes in your teeth. Eating foods that are high in sugar and starches produce acids that can weaken the enamel of the tooth and lead to cavities. Complications caused by cavities. Pain- Untreated cavities can cause pain that can interfere with daily activities. Tooth abscess- A pocket of pus in a tooth that causes infection. Swelling or pus around a tooth- A pocket of pus at the base of the tooth. Damaged or broken teeth- Cavities weaken the structure of the tooth and can lead to damage or breakage. When baby teeth are damaged the damage can ‘spread’ to the adult teeth. Chewing problems. As a result of pain or damaged teeth, chewing can be a problem that can eventually lead to nutrition issues. Shifting of teeth due to teeth loss. Not replacing a tooth when it is lost can affect the position of remaining teeth. Gingivitis (gum disease). Gums will appear red and inflamed causing pain and possible bleeding while brushing. Gum disease. Gingivitis precedes a severe form of gum disease called periodontitis. Gingivitis is caused by plaque build up and leads to irritated and swollen gums. The teeth are still firmly planted in the sockets and there is no irreversible bone damage at that stage. If gingivitis is left untreated it can advance to periodontitis. Periodontitis is characterized by the by the inner layer of the gum and bones pulling away from the teeth and forming pockets. These spaces can collect food debris and cause infections. Poisons produced by bacteria break d ...

1. Dental Hygiene in Children
Dionne Harding
March 21, 2021
PUBH 6128-3-Biological Foundations of Public Health
Prepared for parents
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-
NC
Key Points
What is good dental hygiene?
The importance of practicing good dental hygiene.
How can parents ensure children are practicing good dental
hygiene?
What are the possible health consequences of poor dental
hygiene?
What educational resources are available for parents?
Benefits of regular visits to the dentist.

2. What are the consequences of poor dental hygiene?
1. Cavities or dental carries are one of the most chronic
childhood diseases in the United States. Untreated cavities can
lead to issues with eating, speaking and playing in addition to
pain.
2. Gum disease (an infection or swelling of the gums), halitosis
(bad breath) and plaque (a white-ish substance that sticks to
teeth when food is mixed with bacteria) are also consequences
of poor dental hygiene.
3. Teeth in poor condition can lead to self-confidence issues and
child could become introverted.
4. Poor dental hygiene during childhood can lead to poor dental
hygiene in adulthood.
5. Poor dental hygiene has been linked to cardiovascular
problems.
How are dental cavities formed?
Bacteria in plaque produces acids that stick to teeth and breaks
down enamel over time forming a cavity. A cavity is a
permanently damaged area in the hard surface of the tooth that
eventually leads to little holes in your teeth.

3. Eating foods that are high in sugar and starches produce acids
that can weaken the enamel of the tooth and lead to cavities.
Complications caused by cavities.
Pain- Untreated cavities can cause pain that can interfere with
daily activities.
Tooth abscess- A pocket of pus in a tooth that causes infection.
Swelling or pus around a tooth- A pocket of pus at the base of
the tooth.
Damaged or broken teeth- Cavities weaken the structure of the
tooth and can lead to damage or breakage. When baby teeth are
damaged the damage can ‘spread’ to the adult teeth.
Chewing problems. As a result of pain or damaged teeth,
chewing can be a problem that can eventually lead to nutrition
issues.
Shifting of teeth due to teeth loss. Not replacing a tooth when it
is lost can affect the position of remaining teeth.
Gingivitis (gum disease). Gums will appear red and inflamed
causing pain and possible bleeding while brushing.
Gum disease.
Gingivitis precedes a severe form of gum disease called
periodontitis. Gingivitis is caused by plaque build up and leads
to irritated and swollen gums. The teeth are still firmly planted
in the sockets and there is no irreversible bone damage at that
stage.
If gingivitis is left untreated it can advance to periodontitis.
Periodontitis is characterized by the by the inner layer of the
gum and bones pulling away from the teeth and forming
pockets. These spaces can collect food debris and cause

4. infections.
Poisons produced by bacteria break down bone and connective
tissue that hold the teeth in place. The longer the disease is left
untreated, the pockets will deepen, and more gum tissue and
bone are destroyed. At this point, teeth will begin to loosen and
tooth loss is more possible.
Chewing and nutrition.
Good oral health is strongly linked to good nutrition (Linda,
2020). Chewing and masticating is an essential way for the body
to get the nutrients that it needs to grow and remain healthy.
Damaged teeth can lead to oral pain and children may not want
to chew foods rich in fiber and other beneficial nutrients due to
the amount of chewing required. Because of the ‘extra’ chewing
required for fibrous and protein rich foods, children may be
prompted to eat lss nutritious foods that require less chewing. A
nutritious diet is also essential for healthy tooth production and
maintenance while making them better able to resist decay.
Malnutrition has been linked to developmental delays, increased
vulnerability to disease, and stunted growth (unicef.ca).
Promoting good dental hygiene can assist in reducing the
chances for such conditions.
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
Morbidity and/or mortality rates for poor dental hygiene.

5. In the United States:
Between 2015- 2018 13.2% of children aged 5-19 years have
untreated dental carries (CDC, 2021).
85.9% of children aged 2-17 years have visited a dentist in the
past year (CDC, 2021).
According to the World Health Organization:
Approximately 3.5 billion people worldwide suffer from oral
diseases.
More than 530 million children suffer from dental caries of
primary teeth (milk teeth).
Most oral health conditions are largely preventable and can be
treated in their early stages.
Untreated dental carries (tooth decay) in permanent teeth is the
most common health condition.
Prevention strategies.
Brushing with fluoride toothpaste and flossing at least twice
daily can prevent cavities.
Using a fluoride mouthwash can prevent cavities.

6. Visiting the dentist twice yearly for professional cleanings and
checkups can help to spot tooth problems early and prevent
tooth decay.
Sealants (protective coating) are used to protect back teeth by
sealing them off and preventing the nooks and crannies from
collecting food protecting them from acid and plaque.
Drinking tap water can supply teeth with fluoride and help
prevent dental caries.
Fluoride treatments can be administered by a dental
professional and can help to protect against dental cavities.
Avoid constant snacking. Snacking throughout the day produces
acids that can put your teeth at constant risk for damage.
Avoid candy and sugary drinks. Candy can get stuck in teeth
and be difficult to remove increasing the chance of cavities
developing. Sugary drinks also increase the risk of getting
cavities.
Making dental hygiene fun for children by singing songs while
brushing could encourage good habits in children.
References.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, March 1).
FastStats - Oral and Dental Health. Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/dental.htm.
I;, C. G. A. (0AD). Pathophysiology of Dental Caries.
Monographs in oral science.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29794423/.
Malnutrition. UNICEF Canada : For Every Child. (0AD).
https://www.unicef.ca/en/malnutrition.
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2017,
July 19). Cavities/tooth decay. Mayo Clinic.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-
conditions/cavities/symptoms-causes/syc-20352892.
Oral health. (0AD). https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-
sheets/detail/oral-health.

7. Oral Health. Oral Health | Healthy People 2020. (0AD).
https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/leading-health-
indicators/2020-lhi-topics/Oral-Health/data.
Take home message.
Ensuring that your children practice good dental hygiene is vital
for their overall health and well-being. Poor dental health has
been linked to many health conditions that affect people
negatively. It is the parent’s responsibility to teach their
children about the importance of taking care of their teeth.
Teaching children about good dental hygiene will last them a
lifetime.
BY-ND
GOOD DENTAL HYGIENE IN CHILDREN
DENTAL HYGIENE- THE FACTS.
Poor dental hygiene has been linked to cardiovascular problems.
Approximately 3.5 billion people worldwide suffer from oral
diseases.
13.2% of children aged 5-19 years have untreated dental caries.
Poor dental hygiene in childhood is linked to poor dental
hygiene in adulthood.
HOW CAN DENTAL ISSUES BE PREVENTED?
Brushing teeth with fluoride toothpaste daily.
Drinking tap water as an added source of fluoride.
Visiting dental provider for professional cleanings and
checkups.
Reducing the consumption of sugary drinks and candies.

8. WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF POOR DENTAL
HYGIENE?
DENTAL CAVITIES
GUM DISEASE
BAD BREATH
POOR NUTRITION
LOW SELF-ESTEEM
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