It is very important that children look after their oral health. With February marking National Children’s Dental Health Month, now is a great time for parents to think about the oral health of their children. There are several ways that parents can encourage strong oral hygiene, which can contribute towards strong oral health in the long-term.
February marks National Children’s Dental Health Month, which offers parents a chance to have a think about their children’s oral health [1].
Whether this is reviewing their diet, how much they brush, their oral hygiene, or anything else – this month provides an opportunity to review the oral health of children.
Oral health is crucial for children and can aid their wellbeing as they grow up. Parents have an important role to play in this.
About National Children’s Dental Health Month
Every February, the United States observes National Children’s Dental Health Month. The month intends to promote the benefits of good oral health in children.
The program actually began as a one-day event in 1941 [1]. By 1955, it became a week-long celebration. Then in 1981, the program became a month-long event. It has remained this way since.
The American Dental Association (ADA) sponsor the month [2]. The message behind the month has reached millions of people over the last few decades.
The ADA produce a range of resources and materials for children, including activity sheets, how-to guides, essay contests and many posters [2].
Why is children’s oral health so important?
The oral health of children is very important for numerous reasons. Overall, strong oral health can help to promote a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums, which aids overall health.
Oral health can impact multiple spheres of life for children – including physical, social, and emotional health [1]. Moreover, it also impacts their eating and speaking.
Tooth decay is the most common chronic condition in children [3]. In fact, half of children aged 6-9 have had at least one cavity in their mouth [3].
These issues are more pronounced in lower income households. For example, children aged 6 to 9 from lower income households are more than twice as likely (25%) to have untreated cavities than children from higher income households (10%) [4].
Research shows that poor oral health in children is linked to worse academic performance [5]. This is normally due to oral pain keeping them off school.
Moreover, in a concerning finding, children lose 34 million hours of school each year due to emergency dental care [5].
Perhaps the most important finding of all from past research is that good dental health enhances the quality of life of children, which underlines its significance [6].
How can parents help?
With the above in mind, it shows why it is so important for parents to help their children with their oral health. There are several ways that parents can do this.
Encouraging and instilling good oral health habits from a young age is important. At a minimum, children should be brushing their teeth twice per day with fluoridated toothpaste.
Brushing all surfaces of the teeth is important too. Missing part of the teeth leaves them vulnerable to tooth decay, which can result in cavities developing.
It can be advisable for parents to supervise their children’s toothbrushing until they can manage their own brushing.
If parents live in an area with fluoridated water, it is a good idea for their children to consume this. Water – whether fluoridated or not – should be consumed rather than soft drinks or juice.
Furthermore, avoiding sugary foods can also help to fight against decay. A healthy diet low in sugar and high in nutrients can result in better physical health too for children.
Attending regular visits to the dentist is also important. This underlines to children the importance of oral health, and it also allows a dentist to take a thorough look at their oral health.
Summary
Oral health is a very important aspect of overall health. The effort and resources placed onto this month underline how crucial oral health is!
Parents have an important role to play. By encouraging strong oral health habits from a young age, it helps to build the foundation for excellent oral health for life.
As discussed above, there are many ways that parents can help. This helps to contribute towards overall health, wellbeing and quality of life.
Thinking points…
1) While the oral health of children is very important, this shouldn’t detract from how vital oral health is for adults too. Therefore, remember to attend dental check-ups as an adult! These check-ups allow a dentist to review your oral health, provide advice, and suggest treatment if needed. If you have children, you could also take them with you, as this will set a good example. We recommend that you book an appointment now!
2) As discussed earlier, February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. Do you have children? If so, you could have a read through this article with them and discuss the importance of oral health. It should educate them and aid their overall oral health. Why not have a discussion now?
What we offer at Savanna Dental
Savanna Dental is a dental clinic based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. We provide our patients with a range of treatment options and advice, with the aim of improving oral health and boosting overall wellbeing!
We advise our patients to attend our Calgary-based dental clinic twice a year for a dental check-up. If any problems are detected, we have many treatments available. For instance, these include cavity fillings and root canals. To try and prevent problems, it is important to brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss regularly.
Here at Savanna Dental, we also have some cosmetic treatments available! These include dental implants, tooth whitening and Invisalign™! Our patients find that these treatments have a positive impact on their appearance, confidence and self-esteem.
In addition, the fees of our services at our Calgary dental clinic Savanna Dental are set in line with the Alberta Dental Fee Guide.
We would love you to visit our Savanna Dental clinic in Calgary! You can find out more about us by visiting our website https://savannadentalclinic.ca/!
References
[1] McConnell, P. (2025). Tips for Parents to Encourage Healthy Smiles. Available: https://patch.com/wisconsin/appleton/tips-parents-encourage-healthy-smiles. Last accessed: 28th February 2025.
[2] American Dental Association. (2025). February is National Children’s Dental Health Month (NCDHM). Available: https://www.ada.org/resources/community-initiatives/national-childrens-dental-health-month. Last accessed: 28th February 2025.
[3] National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. (2025). Dental Caries (Tooth Decay) in Children Ages 2 to 11 Years. Available: https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/research/data-statistics/dental-caries/children. Last accessed: 28th February 2025.
[4] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Oral Health Surveillance Report: Dental Caries, Tooth Retention, and Edentulism, United States, 2017–March 2020. Available: https://www.cdc.gov/oral-health/php/2024-oral-health-surveillance-report/index.html. Last accessed: 28th February 2025.
[5] Naavaal, S., & Kelekar, U. (2018). School Hours Lost Due to Acute/Unplanned Dental Care. Health Behavior and Policy Review. 5 (2): p66-73. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14485/HBPR.5.2.7.
[6] Guarnizo-Herreno, C. C., & Wehby, G. L. (2013). Children’s Dental Health, School Performance and Psychosocial Well-Being. The Journal of Pediatrics. 161 (6): p1153-1159. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2012.05.025.
