Is your child showing off their pearly white teeth while smiling at everyone they meet? Well, February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, where the American Dental Association(ADA) is marking the 10th anniversary of its “Give Kids A Smileprogram, to offer free dental care and education for children in need. Even if you are not a family in need it is still best to have regular dental checklist for your child to maintain a healthy smile.
The American Dental Association has the annual “Give Kids A Smile” kicked off February 3th with dental professionals across the nation providing free dental care. The overall gain of this event is to encourage parents, health professionals and policymakers to address the year-round need for oral health care for all children. It is important to begin reducing the epidemic of untreated dental disease of children and replace with a healthy smile. Approximately 80 percent of tooth decay is suffered by 25 percent of the children who live in the United States. It is our responsibility to reduce and/or eliminate this number all together with seeing a child smile back at you. Remember that good oral hygiene habits are not only for February but all year long. Visit the National Children’s Dental Health Monthon ADA that offers free downloadable oral health resources that provide fun tools promoting the benefits of good oral health for children.
Here are some helpful tips to promote good oral hygiene and keep the children smiling.
- Teeth your teeth at least twice a day and do not forget the gum line.
- Use dental floss to remove food that may be missed after brushing.
- Choose healthy snacks such as cheese, fruits and vegetables and avoid crunchy, sticky, chewy candies that can stick to your teeth. Remember, it you can brush as eating snacks.
- Limit how many carbonated or sugary drinks to avoid a lot of acids that can damage your teeth. Remember, to brush your teeth after drinking them.
- Regular dental visits about every six months to make sure your smile is still looking good.
Yes, National Dental Health Month is February but it is our responsibility to maintain our teeth for a happy smile all year long. Keep smiling!
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