In the Know for You to Know

Happy National Children’s Dental Health Month!

As a Mom and a Pediatric Dentist, February is one of the nicest times, when I have heart felt conversations about the importance of children’s oral health.

Talking with you as one parent to another, and giving you these nuggets of powerful information helps you realize how important it’s to start your children early for a lifetime of good oral health.

Truth be told, keeping your child’s teeth healthy isn’t only a 1 month job. It’s something parents and caregivers work on each and every day.

Today I’m shining the light on the importance of starting oral health care early in your child’s life.

Why It Matters

Early oral care and daily habits matter from the very start.

Tooth decay is the most common preventable chronic disease in children. When left untreated, it can cause infection, trouble eating or sleeping, missed school days, and long term health issues.

3 Easy Habits Make All The Difference

Many parents simply aren’t aware that dental visits and dental care should start so early.

1. Schedule your child’s first pediatric dental appointment by their 1st birthday or within 6 months of their first tooth erupting into their mouth.
2. Daily routines and at home habits are important to start at a young age. Clean gums before teeth come in with a soft cloth. Transition to a soft toothbrush when their first tooth appears. Use a rice grain size of fluoridated toothpaste to help prevent cavities.
3. Your child’s diet impacts their teeth more than you realize. It’s important to avoid putting your child to bed with a bottle. If that’s the only way they’ll go to sleep only put water in their bottle.

What To Remember

Healthy teeth play a big role in your child’s health and well being. Three simple habits make all the difference:

• First dental visit by their 1st birthday or within 6 months of their first tooth coming into their mouth.
• No teeth, use a soft cloth to wipe their gums and transition to a soft toothbrush with fluoridated toothpaste when their first tooth comes into their mouth.
• Diet impacts your child’s teeth more than you realize.

While February is a great reminder of how we need to focus on our children’s teeth, children’s oral health matters every month. By starting good oral healthcare habits at an early age you can help prevent problems as they grow.

How old was your child when they had their first dental appointment? How old was your child when you started to brush their teeth? Did they go to bed with a bottle? Tell Us, We’d really like to know! Send us an email at kidstoothhotline@proton.me Like Us on Facebook

More tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!