February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. It is a great time to think about the importance of children’s dental care and how you can help ensure your child enjoys a lifetime of healthy smiles. Many people focus on February 14th and Valentine’s Day as a special day to show love for people they care about. Why not use the whole month of February as a way to show the children in your life you care about their smile!
During Children’s Dental Health Month, parents and caregivers can learn about the importance of a child’s first dental visit and how to clean your child’s teeth. We all want to prevent early childhood cavities that can lead to tooth pain, discoloration and abscesses. But many parents and caregivers lack current up-to-date, research-backed information on the best ways to prevent early childhood tooth decay. Recommendations have changed during the last 10 years and there are many new ways to prevent decay.
February’s focus on dental health for kids can help parents and caregivers realize the importance of baby teeth and early dental care. According to the National Institute of Health, more than 40 percent of children ages two to 11 have had a cavity in their baby teeth and more than 66 percent of children ages 16 to 19 have had a cavity in their permanent teeth. Tooth decay rates for preschool children have increased in recent years. One of the best ways to prevent dental disease is to start early with a visit to the dentist. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends the first dental visit by the first birthday.
At the first dental visit, parents can learn techniques to help their child grow up without tooth decay and dental pain. According to the National Education Association, American students miss 51 million hours of school every year because of oral health problems. These students miss out on critical instruction time and may not be able to focus in the classroom because of pain in their mouth. Early dental care can prevent dental disease and give you the knowledge you need to reduce your child’s risk for future cavities.
To support oral health education during Children’s Dental Health Month, the American Dental Association has free online resources for dental offices, teachers and parents. These include fun mouth-care presentations, ideas for classroom activities and coloring sheets. Here are a couple of easy and fun home or school activities from the American Dental Association that can help kids understand more about their teeth.
How Dental Sealants Work
Purpose: Demonstrate how dental sealants protect chewing surfaces of teeth.
Duration: 15 minutes
Materials Needed: Antacid tablets, vinegar, paper cups, plastic wrap.
Instructions: Wrap one antacid tablet in plastic wrap; leave the other tablet unwrapped.
Place each tablet in a separate paper cup.
Cover both tablets with vinegar.
Wait five minutes and pour off the vinegar. The acid in the vinegar has begun to dissolve the unwrapped antacid tablet (tooth without dental sealant).
Unwrap the plastic from the other antacid tablet. The plastic wrap protected it from the acid, just like a dental sealant.
Apple Decay Demonstration
Purpose: Show how decay can spread through a hole in a tooth
Duration: 3-day prep, 15 minutes
Materials Needed: Apple, knife, paper bag
Instructions: Take an apple and make a hole one-inch deep in it. Put it in a paper bag and set aside for a few days.
Cut through the place where the hole was made and have the children look at the effect of decay. This shows how decay spreads through a tooth.
Explain while oral hygiene (brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and flossing once a day) is important.
Whether you choose to do a fun oral-health activity with your child, or you take a little extra time brushing your child’s teeth, we can all find a small way to have a big impact in a child’s life. Tooth decay is preventable and your child’s dentist can work with you to develop an action plan for a lifetime of healthy smiles.
-by Dr. Mandy Ashley
About Our Dentists: Dr. Mandy Ashley and Dr. Madison Galloway are Board Certified Pediatric Dentists proud to serve the communities of Bowling Green, Hopkinsville, and Glasgow! We look forward to sharing our vision of excellent comprehensive dental care that is fun for children and people with special healthcare needs with your family.
SKY Pediatric Dentistry has been providing dental care to children and adults with special needs since 2013. As board-certified specialists in dentistry for children, our team strives to make going to the dentist as fun as possible while maintaining high-quality treatment and preventative measures. We tailor treatment plans to each child and offer a wide range of treatment options, including sedation, in-office general anesthesia, and also hospital-based dentistry. With over 25 YEARS of doctor experience, SKY Pediatric Dentistry is a great choice for children’s dental care in Bowling Green, Hopkinsville, and Glasgow!
