Children's Dental Health Month

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. The American Dental Association sponsors this observance to help raise awareness about the importance of dental health in children. Although primary or baby teeth will fall out, they play an important role in nutrition, speech development, and self-esteem, as well as acting as place holders for permanent or adult teeth.

As part of this month’s dental health focus, I have been going around to some of the classrooms to talk about how to keep teeth healthy. We’ve talked about foods that are healthy for teeth and those that are not healthy for teeth. We’ve talked about how water is good for our teeth. And using a big set of pretend teeth, we’ve demonstrated how to brush and floss teeth, making sure to reach all of the surfaces.

The children have also been excited to share their knowledge with me. They’ve told me about how you get cavities if you don’t brush your teeth, about siblings who have started to lose their baby teeth, and about their new toothbrushes.

Here are some tips to help keep your child’s teeth healthy:

You can take steps to support your child’s oral health even before the first teeth come in. Wipe your baby's mouth and gums with a clean, damp cloth after feedings and before bed. Start brushing with a soft infant brush and water when the first tooth comes in and start flossing when two teeth start to touch or when all the baby teeth are in – usually around 2-2 1/2 years.

Start introducing cups around 6 months of age. Cups with a “no-spill” valve work more like bottles than cups. To help your child learn the new skill of drinking from a cup, consider looking for a training cup without the no-spill valve. Don't let your child walk around with a cup or bottle – especially if it contains milk, juice, or other sweet drinks. This causes sugar to remain on teeth longer, increasing the risk of decay. It is best not to use a bottle or cup at bedtime or naps; if your child needs this to sleep, only put water in the bottle or cup at that time.

Preschoolers and older children should brush their teeth at least twice a day and floss once a day. Start using a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste when your child is around age two. Encourage your child to help brush his or her own teeth, but remember that children are still developing fine motor skills, so they will need your help until around age 7. Supervise closely to make sure your child spits out, rather than swallows, the toothpaste.

Encourage your child to eat a healthy, balanced diet with foods from each food group: fruits, vegetables, meat/protein, grains, and dairy. Limit sweets and sugar-sweetened drinks, such as candy and soda. If your child does have sweet treats, have them with a meal and rinse with water or brush teeth after. In between meals and snacks, offer water instead of milk, juice, or sweetened drinks.

Starting when the first tooth erupts or by the first birthday, all children should see the dentist regularly. This will help keep their teeth and mouth healthy. The dentist can also find dental problems when they are still easy to treat and can work with you to find ways to avoid them next time.

The American Dental Association has more information about dental health and Children's Dental Health Month on their website: www.ada.org.