Oral health refers to the health of the teeth and gums. This term is often used interchangeably with dental health, although dental refers specifically to teeth. 

Oral health is part of overall health. People with poor oral health have an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, pregnancy complications, osteoporosis (weak bones), and more. Tooth decay can cause pain and embarrassment, and interfere with good nutrition. Kids with tooth decay may have a hard time concentrating in school and have worse educational outcomes. A failure to treat tooth decay can eventually lead to the loss of the tooth, which in turn can affect eating, speaking and social connections. Oral health was artificially divided from the rest of health care, leading to a fractured, unfair system. 

Establishing health habits early sets the stage for a lifetime of oral health! Use simple explanations - Pari Motia, RDH suggests “tell them that sugar bugs make holes in their teeth so we have to be careful about what we eat and clean our teeth.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics’ website offers resources and information for parents that can be instantly translated into 50+ languages (click the accessibility icon in the lower left corner– blue circle with white stick figure and select a language at the top). Some examples:

• Tiny Teeth - resources for good oral health in pregnancy and infancy

• Brush, Book, Bed - establishing an oral health nighttime routine

• Brushing Games - support young children’s drive for independence and autonomy

Story Time! Books about oral health for young kids:

• A list of engaging children’s books that teach kids about oral health.

• Ada, Look at My Teeth! (board book)

• Tooth (board book)

• Maisy Goes to the Dentist (e-book)

Additional resources:

• Center for Immigrant and Refugee Health - Early Dental Care for Young Children - video in Dari language for immigrants from Afghanistan

As teens begin to take responsibility for their own personal care and hygiene, stories about sugar bugs are less effective. This is a time for straight talk about the impact that poor oral hygiene can have on their social lives and their goals. It’s also a time for parents to shift into a coaching mindset to support young people’s growing independence. You could say something like: “when you were a young child you needed me to make sure you ate, took baths, and washed your clothes. Now that you’re growing up, you are in charge of making sure those things happen. If you don’t brush your teeth, you are the one who will live with the consequences, not me. But I care about you and want you to be healthy and happy, so I hope you will take this responsibility seriously.”

There’s an approach called motivational interviewing that’s used by social workers and health care providers that could help. This approach focuses on what matters to the young person, and supports them in identifying the changes that need to happen to realize their goals. Most young people are very concerned with their social lives - making and keeping friends and romantic partners. Help your kid strategize how to support those goals through good oral hygiene, and spell out possible consequences if they don’t: “if you don’t brush your teeth, your mouth will smell bad.” 

Older teens start to think about earning money and what they want to do for a career. Bad breath and decayed teeth can get in the way of being hired - especially in the public-facing service sector where a lot of kids have their first jobs. Straight teeth don’t matter - but having clean teeth does. Teeth with cavities have black and brown spots, so when you smile everyone can notice, and you are telling everyone that you don’t take care of yourself without saying a word. 

Parents can also start to inform kids about the long-term consequences of poor oral health. We only get two sets of teeth, so once our permanent teeth come in if they aren’t cared for we risk losing teeth down the line, which can impact what we are able to eat, our appearance, how we are able to communicate, etc. Untreated dental decay is also linked to serious long-term health consequences including increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and osteoporosis.