Busy parents risking their children’s oral health
A study has revealed that British parents are putting their children’s oral health at risk because they are too busy to supervise teeth cleaning.
The survey, which was carried out by Sonicare, found that almost a third of parents let their children off brushing their teeth twice a day because they are in a rush or too busy. One in five parents also let their kids off cleaning their teeth because they claimed it was ‘too much hassle’.
A quarter of parents taking part in the survey admitted that their children’s attitude towards cleaning their teeth caused them anxiety and many admitted that they let their kids off brushing their teeth to avoid tantrums and arguments.
The NHS recommends that children and adults brush their teeth twice a day; however, only 18 percent of parents involved in the Sonicare survey claimed to stick to this recommendation; most parents admitted that their children only brushed their teeth once a day.
Dental experts say the results of the survey are worrying; they are keen to promote good oral health and this involves parents being stricter about teeth cleaning and encouraging children to adopt a good daily oral hygiene routine from a very early age. Tooth decay is one of the most common childhood illnesses but it is preventable; in order to reduce the risk of tooth decay, parents are advised to supervise teeth cleaning twice a day, take their children to the dentist every six months and encourage them to eat a healthy, balanced diet.
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