Joint Base Andrews –
Every year, the month of February rolls around. It is famous for numerous celebrations and remembrances within its few short weeks - everything from Valentine's Day and Fat Tuesday, to Presidents Day and celebrating African American Awareness month.
Did you also know that February was National Children's Dental Health Month? Starting as a one-day event in Cleveland in February 1941, the event has morphed into a month long national awareness oral health campaign championed by the American Dental Association since 1981. NCDHM's goal is to have dental and medical professionals focus their efforts on the improvement of oral health in children, usually through treatment and education of children and their parents.
Parents often wonder how best to approach home oral hygiene care with their children. Home oral hygiene care is not just brushing your teeth, but a more encompassing subject including diet, fluoride use, and parental involvement.
These three areas are critical for the prevention of dental related problems such as tooth decay (cavities) and gum problems. The age of a child will often dictate certain aspects of home care, particularly the level of parental involvement. Home oral hygiene care starts at the eruption of the first tooth, typically at six months of age. Here, parental involvement includes inspection and cleaning of the child's tooth with a cloth or wet toothbrush. Toothpaste is not required at this age. Additionally, dental professionals recommend that parents bring their children in for their first dental exam six months after the first tooth erupts.
Ensure that children brush their teeth thoroughly at least twice a day. When the child is old enough to spit and not swallow the toothpaste, fluoridated toothpaste can be used, but only in pea-sized amounts. The child will usually need physical assistance to thoroughly brush their teeth until the age of 8 to 9, after which the parents' role becomes more supervisory. Childhood flossing is recommended by a dentist on an individual basis.
Parental involvement with oral home care does not stop with tooth brushing. Indeed, a child's diet plays an important role in their dental health. Parents should limit the amount of high sugar drinks (juice and soda) their children consume to one glass per day or less. Children should not be put to bed with bottles or "Sippy" cups containing anything but water. They should have set mealtimes and not be allowed to "graze" throughout the day. High sugar intake combined with high frequency of consumption or "grazing" create favorable conditions for tooth demineralization and subsequent decay.
Lastly, consult with a dentist regarding the fluoride consumption of your child. Fluoride prevents tooth decay when used properly but in excess can have some adverse effects. The dentist will be able to determine if your child needs fluoride supplementation.
Ultimately, reducing the amount of plaque on teeth, in combination with proper diet and routine checkups with the dentist can significantly reduce the number of dental problems a child may experience.
You play the most important role in the dental well being of your child! For more information, contact your local dentist, or visit www.ada.org or www.aapd.org.