Did you know that February is National Children’s Dental Health Month? It’s never too early to start thinking about your child’s dental health! Developmental stages that are imperative to your child’s future dental needs depend on their baby teeth. These teeth are important to hold space for the adult teeth, mastication (chewing), speaking and smiling. Dental decay is the most common chronic disease in children, and is preventable!
In honor of the month, Dr. Melanie Newman, our expert Pediatric Dentist, has shared some of her favorite tips and tricks to keep your child healthy!
- Establish a dental home by age 1. Even though your child won’t have many teeth at this age, it is important to start positive associations with dental visits. This will make any future potential treatment way easier!
- Help your child brush their teeth until they are about 8 years old. Dexterity doesn’t happen overnight! Let your child brush first, and then brush for them again after. This will keep them an active participant in their oral care.
- Don’t give your child juice or soda. Frequent sweet drinks increases the time that their teeth are exposed to sugar, which will form more cavities.
- If your family drinks mostly bottled water, check to make sure it contains fluoride. Fluoride is key to cavity prevention, it helps to strengthen the enamel of the tooth.
- Avoid sharing utensils with your child, or licking their bottle/pacifier. This can spread cavity-causing germs from you to them!
Remember a healthy mouth will promote long-lasting good dental habits that will contribute healthy growth and development, the ability to focus and learn, to be pain free and speak clearly and, ultimately, will lower dental costs and help children feel good about themselves!
Dr. Newman is passionately committed to helping children achieve the best results. At our practice, you are more than a patient; our team is invested in you and your dental health care needs. You can click here to request an appointment, or call to schedule, with Dr Newman, our pediatric dental specialist.
Help get your child excited about their oral health with these fun activity sheets, provided by the ADA – English / Spanish.
