Dental Hygiene in Children

Running head: DENTAL HYGIENE IN CHILDREN 1
Dental Hygiene in Children
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DENTAL HYGIENE IN CHILDREN 2
Dental Hygiene in Children
Good dental health practices from an early age are widely recognized as a positive
approach to ensuring long term dental health and hygiene (National Research Council, 2012).
Globally one in every two children between the age of 5-9 experience tooth cavity. The
proportion increases with age as 8 in every 10 children aged between 12-17 years get at least one
tooth cavity. Poor oral hygiene, poor nutrition, obesity, high sugar diet, and poor access to dental
care are among the major contributing risk factors in the increased gum disease and tooth decay
in children. Children especially from low-income families and minorities often suffer from
dental problems and access to dental care. The purpose of this report is to bring awareness to
parents, teachers, and children on the significance of dental health and hygiene in early
childhood. The campaign also aims at educating children and their parent on how to take care
and eat an appropriate diet to prevent tooth decay in early childhood. My main message is to
educate the children on correct teeth brushing techniques.
Risk factors for dental problems in children
 Poor oral hygiene- This is a result of failure to brush and floss teeth regularly, which leads
to accumulation of dental plaques causes tooth decay.
 High sugar diet- Prolonged contact of teeth with sugar, for instance from chewing gums,
mints, carbonated drinks, and candies contribute to dental plaque formation (Montero,
Rosel, Barrios, López‐Valverde, Albaladejo & Bravo, 2016). The plaque has bacteria that
utilize the sugar in the diet and forms acids which eat into the tooth leading to cavities.
 Poor diet- Diet with limited nutrients that are essential for the body compromises the
immune system of the body (Montero et al., 2016). With a weak immune system, the body
cannot fight off infections as gum diseases begin as an infection.

DENTAL HYGIENE IN CHILDREN 3
 Obesity- the excess fatty tissue that is present in obese children is linked to increased
inflammation of the gums.
 Poor access to dental care- Inadequate of dental health facilities and dental health
professionals is also a contributing factor to the decline in dental hygiene.
Audience
The demographic target in this campaign is mainly parents, caregivers, and teachers
taking care of children between the age of 2-12 years old. According to research, oral hygiene
among this age group (2-12) is severely inadequate across the globe. Therefore, the guardians
need to be made aware of this fact and reflect upon and change own as well as their children’s
dental hygiene habits. Children are not aware of the importance of their oral hygiene. Parents
should be keen to ensure that they follow up with their children’s routine to ensure they take care
of their dental health to prevent complications that may arise due to poor dental health (Chia,
Densie & Morgan, 2015). Often children forget to brush their teeth, and they have to be
reminded by their parents regularly. Children from poor backgrounds are the most affected as
their parents may not be in a good state to remind them to brush their teeth routinely or even lack
the resources and the knowledge regarding dental care.
Relevant audience beliefs
Most of the time, due to the limited knowledge of oral hygiene in children, they believe
that if they neglect to brush their teeth or take time to floss, it will not have any long-term impact
on their health. However, it is essential to note that build-up of plaque can lead to gum
inflammation which can lead to risky conditions, including heart disease (Chia et al., 2015). My
campaigns aim is to lay down facts to the identified demographics that they may be unaware of