THE CDC REPORTS that 1 in 5 children (between ages 5 and 11) in the US have untreated tooth decay. Not only should tooth decay be treated in regular dental appointments, it should be prevented! Tooth decay is 100 percent preventable with effective personal care and regular dental cleanings.
In honor of Children's Dental Health Month, we're spreading the word about children's dental health.
YOU Can Help Little Ones Have Healthier Smiles!
1. Encourage them to brush for two full minutes. Pick a song about two minutes long and sing it to them during brushing time.
2. Set reminders to brush twice a day. Brushing after breakfast and just before bed are the best times for preventing bacteria growth from food.
3. Brushing apps can help make brushing more fun. There are many apps available for your smartphone that make brushing a fun game for kids. One of our favorites is the Disney Magic Timer app. My grandkids think it is awesome!
4. Show them flossing is fun, not harmful. Be gentle at first when doing it for them. A bad experience can stop them from flossing on their own.
5. Be persistent. Don't let fussy children off the hook. Be motivating! Kids may gladly brush for a sticker or star if you make it an activity.
6. Set their first dental appointment before age 18 months. Having positive dental experiences early will make dental visits easier and less frightening when older.
We enjoy kids and love helping them get off to a good and healthy start towards dental health! If your child is very fearful we work in conjunction with Advanced Specialty Anesthesia to provide care under sedation for our pediatric patients.
Check out our Facebook page! We are doing a coloring contest this month for our younger patients. Details on our Facebook page. We'd love to see your little one's artwork!
Thank you for continuing to be part of our practice family
Here's to your health!
Image by Edu Alpendre used under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original
