When it comes to oral health in kids, Emily Isom has seen it all.

Cavities, gum disease and infections, improper tooth alignment and tooth loss come to mind quickly. Not to mention all the missed school time dealing with these issues.

But she’s also seen plenty of young people who are the picture of good oral health. And she’s on a mission to make more of the latter.

“The mouth is the gateway to the body,” says Isom, a certified medical assistant in pediatrics at OSF HealthCare and a former dental assistant.

“A lot of people don’t think about what our oral health can do to us if it’s not being taken care of,” she adds. “It can cause heart disease, diabetes and respiratory infections.”

Everyday prevention

Isom says kids and their parents should commit to daily habits that will improve their oral health.

For infants without teeth, Isom says parents should use a soft, cool washcloth to wipe the child’s gums twice a day. This helps clear bits of food and milk that can lead to bad breath, irritation and cavities.

“Touching their gums will help when they are older. They’ll be okay with brushing their teeth. They won’t fight the parents about it,” Isom says. “So, it’s good to start [oral health care] early."

Older kids should brush their teeth for two minutes, twice a day. Floss once a day. When a child has two teeth that touch, it’s time to start flossing. That could happen from ages two to six.

Before you rinse out your mouth with water, don’t forget about the tongue, Isom says.

“If we do not brush our tongue, bacteria can sit on it. It can get what I call ‘tongue sick,’” Isom says. “Bad breath can also happen.”

Outside of the bathroom, Isom reminds us that sugary and starchy food and drinks are prime suspects in oral health issues like cavities. So, parents should offer those foods in moderation. Isom calls out sticky candy as an example. She says the sugar tends to sit on your teeth for a while. Isom also says starchy food like bread, potatoes, rice, pasta and cereal can sit between your teeth unless you floss right away.

Another must-know for parents with babies: don’t put your baby to bed with a bottle. Aside from a choking hazard, Isom says the constant stream of milk or formula can lead to cavities and corrosion. She also says this can cause infants to be fussy and demand a bottle more often.

It takes some convincing

A mother of a six-year-old, Isom knows that some kids won’t brush and floss willingly. They see it as a chore.

Her response: make oral health fun.

“Make a dental chart. Add stickers to it, morning and night,” Isom suggests. “Give them rewards like a little toy. After each cleaning, they can get a reward. Turn on music or a timer for two minutes [of brushing.] Get toothbrushes with their favorite characters on them.”

Dentist visits

Isom says children usually have regular visits with a dentist twice a year. Others with known mouth issues may go every three to four months. But see a dentist right away if you notice red flags: pain in the mouth, persistent bad breath, discolored gums or teeth, bleeding gums or trouble swallowing.

A regular dental visit usually includes a thorough cleaning of the teeth and gums followed by fluoride treatment.

“[Fluoride] protects the enamel of the teeth,” Isom explains. “It protects your teeth from cavities. It just makes your enamel really strong so you can eat the things you want.”

A dental professional may also perform X-rays on your teeth regularly.

Something else for parents to make sure the dentist has in mind: oral cancer screening.

“Those are huge,” for oral health, Isom says.

A dentist may use their hands to examine your mouth and neck. They could use a light or have you rinse your mouth with a blue dye. Each method looks for abnormal, possibly cancerous tissue.

At the end of a dental visit, you may be sent home with a prescription or just instructions to keep your mouth happy. For example, you may get a prescription mouthwash to help with gum disease.

Learn more

Read more about how to keep kids’ mouths in good health on the OSF HealthCare and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention websites. If you don’t have a family dentist, talk to your primary care provider about finding one. OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois in Peoria offers dental care for children with special needs.

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No lip service when it comes to oral cancer

Of all cancers, oral cancer is not often talked about. But medical experts say it’s crucial to pay attention to early warning signs.

According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, oral cancer includes cancers of the mouth and the back of the throat. That includes cancers that develop on the tongue, on the tissue lining the mouth and gums, under the tongue, at the base of the tongue, and the area of the throat at the back of the mouth.

Oral cancer makes up about 3% of all cancers diagnosed each year in the United States; there were approximately 54,000 new cases in 2022.

“It can be a little mouth sore, “ says Deborah Oyelowo, a family nurse practitioner who specializes in hematology/oncology for OSF HealthCare. ”Oh, maybe I bit my tongue or have a little bump on my lip or a bump on the back of my throat. Or I can feel this bump under my tongue. There could be bumps or there could be something else brewing that we have no idea.”

Oral cancer is seen most often in people 40 and older. Most cancers in the mouth are related to tobacco use, drinking alcohol, or both, and most throat cancers are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). The number of HPV-related cancers has spiked in the past few years.

Some studies show twice as many men as women develop oral cancer.

I believe it’s due to the fact that men tend to smoke more, drink more and lack follow up appointments with providers," says Oyelowo. "Men tend to procrastinate; they tend to be like, ‘Oh, we're good.’ I believe that's the reason why the increase in this population is on the rise.”

While there are many causes of oral cancer including genetics, poor nutrition and age, tobacco and alcohol use continue to play a significant role. That includes tobacco of any kind, such as cigarettes, cigars, e-cigarettes and chewing tobacco. Using both tobacco and alcohol increases the risk even more.

Oyelowo says it’s never too late to stop smoking and curb your alcohol consumption.

“Smoking is one of the worst things you can invest in," she adds. "I tell people who smoke to ‘try and stop.’ Because smoking is attributed to many forms of cancer and oral cancer is one of them.”

Oyelowo says it’s important to pay attention to changes within your body because when it comes to cancer, prevention is just as important as a cure.

She adds that if you have any of the following symptoms for more than a couple of weeks, call your doctor or dentist.

·         Pain or bleeding in the mouth

·         Numbness in your tongue or other areas of your mouth

·         A lump in the neck

·         A white or red patch in the mouth

·         Problems chewing, swallowing, or talking

·         A sore or lump in your mouth, lip or throat

“Know when something is not right,” says Oyelowo. "Have a regular routine checkup with your dentist. And follow up with your doctor when something is not right. I need patients to have an established relationship with a doctor.”

For more information, visit OSF HealthCare. 

 

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