Oral hygiene facts for kids

Oral hygiene is all about keeping your mouth clean and healthy! It means taking care of your teeth, gums, and tongue every day. Good oral hygiene helps stop problems like cavities, gum disease, and even bad breath. It's a super important habit for a healthy smile and a healthy body!

Salt can help fight against bacteria and reduce swelling. Rinsing your mouth with salt water can be good for your teeth, gums, and the inside of your mouth. Doing this often can help prevent and treat some mouth problems.

Why Oral Hygiene is Super Important

Keeping your mouth clean is a big deal for many reasons. It helps you avoid painful problems and keeps your smile looking great!

Stopping Cavities

Cavities are tiny holes that form in your teeth. They happen when tiny germs (bacteria) in your mouth eat sugary foods and drinks. These germs then make acids that slowly damage your tooth enamel, which is the hard outer layer of your teeth. Brushing and flossing regularly helps remove these germs and food bits, protecting your teeth from cavities.

Preventing Gum Disease

Your gums are the soft tissues that hold your teeth in place. If you don't clean your teeth well, a sticky film called plaque builds up. Plaque is full of germs. If plaque stays on your teeth, it can harden into something called tartar. Both plaque and tartar can irritate your gums, making them red, swollen, and bleed easily. This is called gingivitis. If not treated, it can get worse and become a more serious problem called periodontitis, which can even lead to tooth loss.

Fighting Bad Breath

Nobody likes bad breath! Often, bad breath is caused by germs in your mouth, especially on your tongue and between your teeth. These germs produce smelly gases. Brushing your teeth and tongue, and flossing, helps get rid of these germs and the food particles they feed on, making your breath much fresher.

Your Mouth and Your Body

Did you know that your mouth health can affect your whole body? Problems in your mouth, like serious gum disease, can sometimes be linked to other health issues in your body. So, taking care of your mouth is also a way to take care of your overall health!

How to Keep Your Mouth Clean and Healthy

Good oral hygiene is easy to do every day. Here are the main steps:

Brushing Your Teeth

You should brush your teeth at least two times a day, usually in the morning and before bed. Each time, brush for about two minutes.

• Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and a toothpaste that contains fluoride. Fluoride is a natural mineral that helps make your teeth stronger and protects them from cavities.
• Hold your toothbrush at a slight angle towards your gum line.
• Use gentle, short strokes to clean all surfaces of your teeth: the outside, the inside, and the chewing surfaces.
• Don't forget to gently brush your tongue too! This helps remove germs and keeps your breath fresh.

Flossing Your Teeth

Brushing cleans most of your teeth, but it can't reach everywhere. Flossing helps clean between your teeth and under your gum line where your toothbrush can't go.

• You should floss at least once a day, usually before you brush.
• Take a long piece of dental floss, about 18 inches.
• Gently slide the floss between your teeth and curve it around each tooth in a "C" shape.
• Move the floss up and down gently to remove food particles and plaque.

Using Mouthwash

Mouthwash can be a helpful addition to your routine, but it's not a replacement for brushing and flossing.

• Some mouthwashes help kill germs that cause bad breath.
• Others contain fluoride to give your teeth extra protection.
• Ask your dentist if mouthwash is right for you.

Eating Healthy Foods

What you eat also affects your mouth health.

• Try to limit sugary snacks and drinks like candy, soda, and juice. These feed the germs that cause cavities.
• Choose healthy snacks like fruits, vegetables, and cheese.
• Drinking plenty of water throughout the day is also great for your mouth. It helps wash away food particles and keeps your mouth moist.

Visiting Your Dentist

Regular check-ups with your dentist are super important!

• You should visit your dentist at least once or twice a year for a professional cleaning and check-up.
• The dentist can spot problems early, like small cavities, before they become big and painful.
• They can also give your teeth a really good cleaning to remove plaque and tartar that you can't remove at home.

Images for kids

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  Proper oral hygiene requires regular brushing and interdental cleaning

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  A 1930s poster from the Work Projects Administration promoting oral hygiene

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  A dental hygienist demonstrates dental flossing.

See also

In Spanish: Higiene bucodental para niños