Bridging the gap: aligning daily oral care with parents’ primary health concerns

Kristin Evans, BS, RDH, discusses the importance of educating patients on children’s overall health

As a dental hygienist with over 30 years of experience and now a grandmother, I’ve always prioritized oral health in my family. I assumed that the lessons I passed down about cavity prevention and oral health would naturally continue with my grandchildren. But as I’ve observed my adult children raising families of their own, it’s clear that today’s parenting landscape is very different. Busy schedules, shifting priorities, and new stressors have changed how oral care fits into their daily lives.

Yet, some things haven’t changed. Dental caries remains one of the most prevalent, preventable health conditions affecting around 50% of preschool children.¹ Many of these cases go undiagnosed and untreated, increasing the risk of spreading decay to other teeth and even other people. In children under 6 years old, dental decay continues to be a leading cause of preventable hospitalizations.²

From birth through age 5, children depend almost entirely on their caregivers to help build healthy oral hygiene habits.³ These habits are formed through consistent daily routines, yet many parents struggle to maintain them. Brushing can often feel like a daily battle or be forgotten all together after a long, exhausting day. These situations may help explain why just over half of children brush the recommended two times a day, both morning and night, with many missing a few brushing sessions each week.⁴

As both a dental hygienist and a grandmother, I wonder if we are going about this the wrong way. Sources show that today’s parents may be more concerned about their children’s mental health, nutritional health, and the cost and access to healthcare than having cavities in baby teeth that will “fall out” eventually.^5,6  What if we shifted our approach and met caregivers where they are, connecting daily oral care to the concerns that matter most to them?

1. Mental health: the hidden role of oral health in emotional well-being

Mental health is front and center in today’s conversations about children’s health and for good reason. According to the World Health Organization, more than 280 million people worldwide are living with depression, and 23 million of them are our younger population.⁷ While parents might not immediately connect mental health with oral care, the two are interrelated. Research shows that poor oral hygiene could actually worsen mental health challenges, affecting a child’s confidence, social interactions, and overall quality of life.⁸ It’s a connection worth exploring and sharing with families.

Pain, appearance, and self-esteem

Untreated dental caries, malocclusion, halitosis, and gum disease can significantly impact a child’s well-being. Beyond physical pain and discomfort, these conditions often lead to sleep disturbances, clenching and grinding, poor nutrition, impact speech, and social embarrassment, all of which can contribute to psychological distress.⁸ This distress may manifest as low mood, reduced self-esteem, and impaired school performance. Children who feel self-conscious about their teeth may withdraw socially, smile less, or experience more anxiety and depression.⁸

Routine and empowerment to support emotional wellness

Brushing and flossing twice daily helps to build consistent routines and predictable habits. Core daily activities, such as sleep, personal hygiene, and regular meals, form the foundation of what are known as primary routines.⁹ These routines can reduce the impact of stress and contribute to better mental health outcomes.⁹ Prioritizing them gives children a sense of control over their bodies and their well-being, helping to build resilience and support emotional wellness. As Harvey Mackay wisely said, “Good habits are as addictive as bad habits, and a lot more rewarding.”

Other improvements for both mental health and oral health

• Regular dental visits starting with the eruption of the first primary tooth help build a positive relationship with dental professionals.
• Stress can be reduced with things like: optimal sleep, exercise, meditation, and breathing techniques.
• Do oral hygiene routine together as a family using the Tell-Show-Do model.
• Say to the caregiver: “Cavities can affect how your child eats, sleeps, and feels about themselves. We can help prevent that with good routine home care.”

2. Nutrition, obesity, and chronic inflammatory diseases: oral health’s overlapping role

Nutrition starts in the mouth. Poor nutrition along with the rise in childhood obesity and Type 2 diabetes are critical concerns for today’s families. A survey in 2019 showed that 1 in 3 children are living with a chronic health condition that will have a significant effect on their long-term health outcomes.¹⁰ This figure is likely even higher in 2025, prompting many parents to actively seek guidance on improving their children’s diet and metabolic health. Dental professionals can and should play a key role in this conversation.

The systemic risk of sugar and ultra-processed foods

Poor diet choices, stress, and inadequate oral hygiene can disrupt the oral microbiome, a critical system that helps regulate inflammation, protect teeth and gums, and support a child’s immune function.^11,12 When pathogenic bacteria outnumber beneficial microbes, a condition known as dysbiosis occurs.^11,12 This imbalance can contribute to not only oral diseases but also diabetes, cardiovascular problems, and digestive issues.¹¹

Sugar and ultra-processed foods are shared risk factors for both dental disease and metabolic conditions. Pediatric dental teams are able to educate families on how frequent consumption of these foods impacts not only oral health, but also weight regulation and insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is a precursor to diabetes and other chronic inflammatory diseases.

By promoting a balanced microbiome with optimal oral hygiene alongside the reduction of non-beneficial foods, dental professionals can help reinforce healthy dietary behaviors through a more integrated, whole-child health approach.

Periodontal health and systemic inflammation

Emerging evidence highlights a bi-directional relationship between gum disease and diabetes.¹³ Even in younger children, gingival inflammation (shaped by factors such as diet, socioeconomic status, and poor oral hygiene) may contribute to elevated systemic inflammatory markers.¹⁴ For children diagnosed with diabetes, prediabetes (including fatty liver disease), or other chronic inflammatory diseases, maintaining optimal oral hygiene is essential for preventing the progression of periodontal disease and improving future health outcomes.

Other ways to help children improve oral health and nutrition

• Neutralize pH by staying hydrated with water.
• Eat fiber rich foods, healthy fats, and clean proteins that support beneficial bacteria.
• Avoid alcohol-based mouth rinses that kill the beneficial bacteria.
• Say to the caregiver: “Brushing twice a day is one of the easiest and most powerful ways to support your child’s immune system, help prevent cavities and gum disease, and set them up for better overall health.”

3. Improved home care to help offset barriers to dental services

Access to dental care remains a significant challenge for many families. Barriers such as provider shortages, financial limitations, geographic isolation, and restricted insurance coverage often prevent children from receiving timely preventive or restorative dental services. While these barriers may not be immediately fixable, empowering parents with strategies they can control can help protect children’s oral health despite limited access to professional care.

Prioritizing home-based prevention

In the face of these barriers, home-based oral care becomes a vital first line of defense. Daily oral hygiene practices are among the most accessible and cost-effective strategies for preventing dental disease. It is essential that parents and caregivers are empowered with the knowledge and tools to protect their children’s oral health at home.

Pediatric dental teams can play a central role by educating families on how to:

• Establish consistent brushing and flossing routines appropriate for the child’s age and developmental stage.
• Choose effective, evidence-based products such as hydroxyapatite, nano-hydroxyapatite, fluoride, and nano-silver formulations.
• Use soft-bristled toothbrushes and age-appropriate flossing tools.
• Monitor and reinforce healthy oral hygiene behaviors at home.

When implemented consistently, these home care strategies can significantly reduce the incidence of caries and gingival inflammation. They also help mitigate the broader economic and health burdens associated with untreated oral disease especially in settings where access to regular dental care is limited. By improving oral health through consistent home care, families can reduce the need for costly dental interventions and ultimately save money in the long run.

Conclusion

For pediatric dental professionals, there is an opportunity to reposition oral hygiene not as an isolated dental habit, but as a foundational contributor to children’s well-being. Daily oral hygiene, when practiced effectively, supports mental well-being, improves systemic health, and helps with healthcare barriers. By aligning oral health messaging and routines with today’s top parental concerns, we shift oral care from a task to a tool that benefits both children and parents.

Disclosure: AI was used by the author of this article for editing content and grammar.