Why Good Dental Health is Important
Innumerable studies and research have concluded the importance of starting children early in their lives with good dental hygiene and oral care. According to research, the most common chronic childhood disease in America is tooth decay, affecting 50 percent of first-graders and 80 percent of 17-year-olds. Early treatment prevents problems affecting a child’s health, well-being, self-image and overall achievement.
The National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research estimates that children will miss 52 million hours of school each year due to oral health problems and about 12.5 million days of restricted activity every year from dental symptoms. Because there is such a significant loss in their academic performance, the Surgeon General has made children’s oral health a priority.
Parents are responsible for ensuring their children practice good dental hygiene. Parents must introduce proper oral care early in a child's life—as early as infancy. The American Dental Hygiene Association states that a good oral hygiene routine for children includes:
- Thoroughly cleaning your infant’s gums after each feeding with a water-soaked infant cloth. This stimulates the gum tissue and removes food.
- Gently brushing your baby’s erupted teeth with a small, soft-bristled toothbrush. Fluoridated toothpaste is not recommended until your child learns how to spit.
- Teaching your child at age 2 or 3 about proper brushing techniques. It is important that you start flossing this young and help them brush and floss until they are 7 – 8 years old, or when they can learn to write in cursive.
- Regular visits with their dentist to check for cavities in the primary teeth and for possible developmental problems. Along with the American Academy of Pediatric Dentists and the American Dental Association, we recommend your child’s first dental visit be when their first tooth erupts, or no later than their first birthday.
- Encouraging your child to discuss any fears they may have about oral health visits, but not mentioning words like “pain,” “hurt” or ‘shot” since this may instill the possibility of pain in the child’s thought process. Our office recommends talking with your children about their visit being fun and reading books or watching dental videos prior to their appointment. It is important that parents do not instill their own fear into their children.
- Determining if the water supply that serves your home is fluoridated; if not, discussing supplement options with your dentist or hygienist.
- Asking your hygienist or dentist about sealant applications to protect your child’s teeth-chewing surfaces and about bottle tooth decay, which occurs when teeth are frequently exposed to sugared liquids, including milk and juice.