Question

Topic: “Dental Hygiene With the Kids “

Examine the health of you group project: is there something you could improve regarding your topic on with health behaviors? What do you see as the biggest health challenges your selected cohort faces, on an individual basis, as a family, a class cohort, or as a community associated with the selected topic? Based on your readings, individual assessments, group consensus & Healthy people 2020; select the most practical process to improve the health of individuals, a group, or as a community.

Answer 1

Dental Hygiene with the Kids

For building a healthier nation, the federal government proposed the prevention agenda known as Healthy People 2020. It includes the statement of national health objectives designed to identify the most significant preventable threats and measures to reduce these threats. The vision of Healthy People 2020 is to have a society in which all people attain high-quality, longer lives and free from preventable diseases. Also, to create an environment that promotes good health for all and promotes quality of life, healthy development, and healthy behaviors across all life stages.

Dental hygiene with kids is an important topic in order to achieve the goal of having a healthy life free from preventable diseases. Tooth decay is one of the most common chronic conditions affecting children which can cause pain and infections. The severe pain from tooth decay may interfere with a child’s ability to eat, talk, learn, and play. It is a preventable disease with proper dental hygiene and a healthy diet rich in calcium.

Challenges:

Biggest health challenge is the lack of access to oral health care in rural areas. Lack of knowledge on the preventive measures of tooth decay is another challenge. Preventive oral health services like fluoride varnish, dental screenings, referrals, oral health education etc. are not accessible in the remote areas.

Practical Process to Improve Dental Hygiene:

School-based oral care programmes are the most suitable practical processes to improve dental hygiene. There should be regular dental screening programs in schools. Health education on the preventive measures of tooth decay should be integrated into the curriculum of the school. Teach kids about good dental habits. Good oral hygiene should be incorporated into daily routines. Encourage parents or family members to participate in the dental hygiene programme. Advise them to supervise the correct brushing techniques and to encourage the child to perform it at least twice daily and make sure that brushing and flossing are done before going to bed. Also, encourage them to check the mouth for early symptoms of tooth decay and to consult with the dentist if anything noticed. Advice to change to another flavor if the child is reluctant to use a particular brand. Emphasize that clean each tooth thoroughly inside and outside, top and bottom. The child may clean only the outside of the tooth. Advise the parents to observe and make sure that brushing is done for at least 2 minutes, twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.

Instruct to avoid too many sugary foods, especially foods that are sticky to the teeth. Advise brushing immediately after taking a sugary food. Also, advise for regular dental check-ups to prevent the occurrence of oral diseases. Instruct to have a calcium-rich diet such as milk, yogurt, almond, dark green leafy vegetables, meat etc. to have strong teeth and gums.