Small Smiles, Big Impact: How to Build a Lifetime of Healthy Habits in Kids

February 11, 2025

February marks Kid’s Oral Health Month, a perfect opportunity for parents to prioritize and reflect on their children’s oral health. Healthy habits for strong teeth and gums should start early, and there are many ways parents can help kids build and maintain healthy smiles.

Strong Foundations Start With the First Tooth

Oral care begins as soon as babies start teething. While it’s tempting to wait until a child has a full set of teeth to begin brushing, early intervention is essential. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC)¹ details the steps parents and caregivers can take during infancy to set the stage for a lifelong healthy mouth:

• Wipe gums twice daily with a soft, clean cloth, preferably in the morning and before bed
• As teeth come in, brush twice a day with a soft toothbrush and water
• Visit the dentist to discuss your baby’s oral health

Your Child’s Oral Care is a Non-Negotiable Habit

As children grow, their oral care needs evolve. Around age 3, they’ll likely have a full set of baby teeth, meaning it’s time to incorporate flossing into their daily routine. The CDC recommends parents help children incorporate these additional steps into their daily oral hygiene routine:

• Brush teeth twice daily with toothpaste (parents, you may need to help with this step!)
• Floss once daily to remove food particles and bacteria from between the teeth
• Visit the dentist for routine care and checkups, preferably twice per year

Brushing and flossing should always be done together. Parents can teach kids how to brush properly by focusing on gentle circular motions on all surfaces of the teeth—inside, outside, and chewing surfaces. Setting a timer for two minutes can keep the routine consistent, ensuring kids brush long enough for a thorough clean. And of course, it’s important to lead by example—children are more likely to adopt habits they see in their parents.

Set Your Child Up for a Lifetime of Oral Health With Oral Probiotics

Traditional methods such as brushing and flossing target visible plaque and food particles and are cornerstones of good oral hygiene. However, an often overlooked aspect of tooth and gum health is the oral microbiome. Good bacteria are a crucial component of a healthy, thriving child as they provide protection from disease-causing pathogens in the mouth and throughout the body. Babies have an established oral microbiome even before the eruption of the first tooth. However, children are prone to cavities caused by the oral pathogen, Streptococcus mutans, which can be passed from parent to child.

To combat childhood oral health problems, like cavities, kids need to add back the good bacteria by taking a daily probiotic. Probiotics are good bacteria that support gum and tooth health. Because many probiotics were originally designed for gut health, it’s important to choose a product with bacteria strains that specifically target the teeth and gums, like ProBiora for Kids. ProBiora for Kids contains a patented probiotic blend, ProBiora3®, which goes to work both beneath the gumline and at the tooth surface to balance the bacteria your child’s mouth. This approach complements their regular brushing routine by supporting the overall health of their teeth and gums.

ProBiora for Kids is a tasty orange-creamsicle flavored tablet that dissolves in the mouth. Adding ProBiora for Kids into your child’s nighttime oral hygiene routine is an easy, effective, and natural way to promote healthy gums, reduce bad breath, and maintain a lifelong balanced microbial environment in the mouth.

ProBiora for Kids is supported by more than 35 years of peer-reviewed, clinical research (see details here!)  and proven benefits for kids include:

• Crowding out bacteria that cause cavities in children
• Reducing the risk of future cavities
• Whitening teeth
• Supporting overall oral health

Consistency is Key: Making Oral Care Fun and Easy

Getting kids excited about everyday oral care can be a challenge. The key to consistency is making the routine feel like something they can enjoy rather than a task they have to do. Parents can start by setting up a colorful brushing chart and celebrating small milestones, like brushing for two minutes every day. Adding ProBiora for Kids to their nighttime oral care routine won’t feel like a chore–  with their orange-creamsicle flavor these tablets are fun and easy for kids to take—making it a treat your child can look forward to. You can even get creative with the way you introduce ProBiora—pairing it with a favorite story about taking care of teeth or making it a fun part of your bedtime routine.

A Lifetime of Healthy Smiles Starts Now

Remember, children thrive on consistency and positive reinforcement. If you make oral care enjoyable, your kids are more likely to stick with it as they grow older, carrying healthy habits with them into adulthood. The choices you make today for your child’s oral care can set the stage for a lifetime of healthy smiles. Building strong habits early—such as brushing, flossing, and using ProBiora for Kids—lays a solid foundation for long-term dental health. As your child’s first baby teeth come in and their adult teeth follow, you’ll know that the foundation for a lifetime of healthy habits has been built.

February may be Kid’s Oral Health Month, but every month is the perfect time to focus on creating and nurturing healthy oral habits in children. With a little patience, consistency, and a positive approach, you can help your child enjoy a lifetime of healthy, happy smiles.

1. United States Centers for Disease Control, 2023; https://www.cdc.gov/oral-health/prevention/oral-health-tips-for-children.html