PREVENTIVE PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY: PREVENTION STRATEGIES AND ORAL HEALTH PROMOTION IN CHILDREN

Abstract

This article aimed to describe the main strategies for the prevention and promotion of oral health in children within the context of preventive pediatric dentistry, highlighting the importance of educational actions, family involvement, and early dental care. This is an exploratory, descriptive study with a qualitative approach, conducted through a narrative literature review using the Virtual Health Library (VHL), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), and PubMed databases, in addition to books and official documents related to children’s oral health. The results showed that the prevention of dental caries is associated with measures such as supervised toothbrushing with fluoride toothpaste, control of the frequency of sugar consumption, dietary guidance, regular dental follow-up, and health education. The involvement of parents, schools, and public health services was also identified as relevant to the development of healthy habits and the expansion of access to preventive care. It is concluded that early and integrated preventive pediatric dental care contributes to the prevention of oral diseases, reduction of risk factors, and improvement of children’s quality of life.