Brushing and flossing are fundamental to maintaining oral health Starting oral care early is important for children to establish habits that will last a lifetime. The ideal is to brush after every meal, but this may not be realistic. Unless your dentist recommends otherwise, it is generally possible to develop good oral health habits by consistently brushing twice a day, morning and evening. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that flossing or interdental cleaning tools should be started as soon as there is contact between the two teeth. However, there are differing opinions on whether or not preschoolers should floss. You can consult your dentist about whether your child must floss. Bad eating habits are harmful to oral health Some parents find white or yellow plaque on their children’s teeth, a film of bacteria on the surface of the teeth that expands when sugary or sticky foods are eaten, and some of these bacteria produce enamel-destroying acids that eventually lead to tooth decay. Parents tend to pay more attention to the amount of sugary snacks their children eat and not enough to the frequency of snacking. In fact, the only way to have a positive effect on a child’s oral health is to reduce the frequency of sugary foods eaten. When parents choose snacks for their children, they should consider the following elements: first, the length of time the sweet food stays in the child’s mouth; second, the number of times the sweet food is eaten in a day; and third, the texture of the sweet food (such as sticky or chewy). Sugar provides the basis for acid production by bacteria, which eventually leads to tooth decay. The more frequently a child eats sweets, the greater the supply of raw materials used by bacteria to produce harmful acids; some types of sweets are more harmful than others, such as gummies or chewing gum, which stick to the tooth surface for longer periods of time, providing more raw materials for bacteria to produce damaging acids. Parents should not allow their children to snack too often. When snacking, they should choose healthy snacks rather than foods that stick to the teeth. If parents can’t brush their children’s teeth after they eat candy, they should at least have them rinse their mouths with water. Both fluoride overdose and fluoride deficiency can have a negative impact on children’s oral health Fluoride is very important in preventing dental caries. It has been reported that people living in areas with naturally fluoridated drinking water have far fewer dental caries than in areas supplied with non-fluoridated water. Different levels of fluoride can be found in infant formula, dental supplies (e.g. toothpaste, mouthwash), bottled water, filtered water, and well water, and fluoride may also be added to community supply water. Chronic fluorosis may occur with excessive fluoride intake, resulting in discoloration of permanent teeth. Parents can consult with their dentist or internist about the amount of fluoride their child should consume. For oral health, do not allow children to use soothers and bottles at bedtime. Putting a child to bed with a bottle containing milk or juice can increase the risk of caries. According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), prolonged contact with any liquid other than water can lead to infant bottle caries (also known as “early childhood caries”). Children who use bottles lying down are also more likely to get ear infections. Therefore, do not allow your child to hold a bottle at bedtime. Parents will notice that most babies at 7 or 8 months of age do not wake up during the night and therefore do not need to be fed during the night. Prolonged use of a soother can be especially harmful to tooth alignment. Therefore, prolonged pacifier use should be avoided. (Pacifier use should be gradually reduced or discontinued for babies 6-12 months of age.) Conclusion Advances in scientific research, newer concepts of dental care, and increased parental knowledge have all contributed to the improvement of the nation’s overall oral health. For the sake of oral and physical health, it is valuable for parents, dentists, and professionals involved in oral health care to work together to educate preschoolers about healthy oral habits.