Oral Health in the

Child Care Setting

From the Bureau of Oral HealthODH

• 2004-05 Survey of the Oral Health of Ohio Schoolchildren—Key Findings– Dental disease remains a common condition– 55% children experience tooth decay by 3rd – Overall oral health– of Ohio’s children is not improving

dramatically

Objectives

• Define the process of tooth decay and its causes

• Give 2 examples of appropriate oral heath care in a child care setting

• Identify the treatment steps in a dental emergency

Dental Surgery

• 4 year old boy

• History of congenital heart disease

• Severe dental caries

• Pain when chewing food

• Surgery for teeth extractions

Did You Know…• More people use blue toothbrushes than

red ones.• Like fingerprints, everyone’s tongue print

is different .• The toothbrush is first on the list of

inventions that adults could not live without.

• The average person only brushes for 45 - 70 seconds a day, the recommended amount of time is 2-3 minutes.

Teeth Are Important

•Smiling•Chewing•Speaking•Jaw

Placement•Baby teeth

Oral Health FactsTooth Decay :• More common

than asthma

• Affects all age groups

What is Tooth Decay?

An active process of tooth damage resulting from interactions between

teeth, food and bacteria.

Chain of Decay

•Sugars + Bacteria = Acid •Acid + Tooth = DECAY

Problems Associated with Tooth Decay in Early Childhood

Problems Associated with Tooth Decay

1. Destruction of teeth

2. Difficulty Chewing

3. Speech problems

4. Poor self image

5. Severe Infections

6. Negative affect on learning

Primary Teeth

X-ray of a 5-6 year old child

Many Faces of Decay

Contributing Factors for Cavities

Not Enough..

Safe Zone

Danger Zone

pH

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1

Bottle Breakfast Snack Sippy Cup Sippy Cup Lunch

Frequency of sugar is more important than the amount.

Not what you eat, but how often

Dentally Safe Drinks

•WATER•Other drinks taken at one “sitting” and not sipped all day long.

Check Food Labels for Sugar Content:•Low: 0-8 grams•Medium: 9-11 grams•High: 12+ grams

How Much Sugar Is In That Bottle?

Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Teething

Comfort Measures

Why Brush Teeth in Day Care Centers?

• Develop good habits

• Children may not brush at home

• Children learn basic hygiene principals

Oral Hygiene in the Child Care Setting

Infant Mouth Care

Good, Better, Best

Tooth Brushing In Child CareSoft bristle tooth

brushHalf a pea size

amount of toothpaste

Use a circular motion

Care Of The Toothbrush• Air-dry in an upright position• Toothbrushes should not touch or

drip on another toothbrush• Toothbrushes are not to touch other

people or objects• Replacement of toothbrush

Storing Toothbrushes

A Word about Fluoride

Steps to Good Oral Health

Teeth are

Jewelsnot

Tools

Dental First Aid• ODH/ODJFS Chart

• Baby tooth should not be replanted

• Place permanent tooth in HBSS or milk, if not available

Loosened~ Chipped Tooth

• Rinse the mouth

• Apply a cold compress

• Do not reposition the tooth

Tying It All Together

Songs….

AFew Handouts...

Fun Activities

Questions??• One thing that I have learned ….

Resources• www.headstartinfo.org -HSIPC Head Start Bulletin• www.odh.state.oh.us -ODH, Bureau of Oral Health

Services• www.ada.org - American Dental Association• www.cdc.gov -CDC’s Oral Health Program• www.aapd.org - American Academy of Pediatric

Dentistry                                                             • www.bmcc.org/Headstart/Dental - Head Start

Dental Health Curriculum• www.colgatebsbf.com - Colgate Bright Smiles

Education Pages• www.cdhp.org -Children’s Dental Heath Project• www.kidshealth.org - Kids Health