Forming habits from a young age has been known to be an effective tool for many aspects of dental hygiene.A� Routines of daily tooth brushing in the morning and evening build this habit.A� Parents bring their children to a dental hygienist at a young age to get used to the idea of the need to see a health care provider on a regular basis to assist with oral health care maintenance.A� Linking daily habits to oral health is essential. A�Nutritional intake is a daily activity that is directly linked to oral health, and as such, this connection to be made for children and their parents or caregivers is important.
As dental hygienists, it is part of our role to educate our clients to the benefits of good nutritional intake and the impact on the oral cavity.A� For example, an increase in the amount of sugar in the form of candy or pop, results in the breakdown of tooth structure, if not removed with good oral hygiene.A� This is why oral hygiene education is important in the practice of a dental hygienist.A� It is not just about removing the build-up when a client comes to receive treatment from a dental hygienist.A� It is more about teaching the client how to effectively remove the build-up on teeth and making recommendations to the client to modify the daily intake of such sugars to maintain healthy teeth by limiting the frequency of caries-promoting fermentable carbohydrates between meals, among other recommendations.A� Good oral habits and dietary practices which include a varied balanced diet set the stage for optimal oral health for a lifetime. Teaching both parents and the children will lead to positive outcomes and build life-long healthy habits.
