Help the Child in Your Life
Did you know that February is National Children’s Dental Health Month — a month dedicated to raising awareness among children and their caretakers about the positive impact of dental hygiene for children? We know it isn’t always easy to get children to brush and floss their teeth, but a lifetime of good dental health starts at an early age.
Starting a consistent routine including regular tooth brushing, flossing, and yearly visits to the dentist prevents health scares, pain, and the huge bills that come with extensive dental treatment. And these habits should begin before your child’s teeth have even come in. You can start teaching your child about the importance of taking care of their teeth by regularly cleaning their gums until the first tooth grows, which is when toothpaste should be introduced.
Good Dental Hygiene Starts at Home
The average age for children to have a full set of teeth is 3 years old. Be mindful that unhealthy teeth can cause lifelong consequences including pain and discomfort, infections, frequent/expensive dental treatments, loss of self esteem, tooth loss, and more serious conditions like periodontitis.
Help the child in your life avoid these common oral problems:
- Cavities: More than half of all school aged children have had a cavity and nearly all adults have at least one cavity.
- Oral infections: Gingivitis, periodontitis, and other infections can cause pain, bad breath, a foul taste in your kid’s mouth, and more severe conditions in adults, such as heart disease, and even complications during pregnancy.
- Tooth loss: About a third of people between 65 and 74 years old have no natural teeth left.
These are all conditions you can prevent with the right habits in your child’s life, including regular trips to the dentist, avoiding sugary treats or drinks, brushing their teeth twice a day (or as often as your dentist advises), and flossing regularly to remove food trapped between the teeth. We are happy to provide you with more tips on helping keep you and your family’s teeth beautiful and healthy!
