Parents urged to keep an eye on children’s oral health
Parents are being urged to take good care of their children’s teeth in a bid to instil good oral hygiene habits and improve standards of oral health amongst young children.
The Canadian Health Measures Survey found that more than 2 million school days are lost each year in Canada due to dental health problems. In light of the worrying figures, dentists are encouraging parents to talk to their children about oral health and make teeth cleaning part of their daily routine from a young age. Many children are going back to school and dentists say this is an ideal time to get children involved in oral hygiene and slot teeth cleaning into the getting ready for school routine.
Dental health issues, including tooth decay and gum disease are completely preventable, yet thousands of children are suffering from untreated decay and gum problems. Brushing the teeth twice a day every day and using mouthwash and dental floss will help to remove bacteria and food deposits from the mouth; this reduces the risk of developing health conditions and only takes a few minutes each day.
Health experts say that an increasing number of young children are suffering from preventable illnesses and they are keen to stop the trend and improve children’s oral health. As well as a good daily oral hygiene routine, healthy eating can also help to boost oral health; many children eat a lot of sugary foods and drink fizzy drinks, which are high in sugar. Sugary foods weaken the protective enamel surfaces of the teeth, making the teeth less resistant to decay and erosion.
As children head back to school, the British Columbia Dental Association is willing parents to keep an eye on their children’s oral health; as well as encouraging them to brush their teeth twice a day, they are also asking parents to pack sugar-free, healthy foods for their children’s lunch and take them to see a dentist on a regular basis.
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