February is National Children’s Dental Health Month

As Children’s Dental Hygiene Month comes to an end, I have taken a moment to reflect back at what this month has meant to us here at Just For Kids Pediatric Dentistry.

One of my favorites things about my job is having the opportunity to educate new parents on how to prevent early childhood caries (cavities) and baby bottle decay. A few of the key points I discuss with new parents are:

• A child should have their first dental visit as soon as they get their first tooth.
• Start brushing your child’s teeth as soon as the first tooth is present in the mouth.
• Brush your child’s teeth two times a day, and floss any teeth that are touching.
• Teeth should be brushed right before bed, and your child should not go to bed with anything besides water.
• Children 0-3 should use a grain of rice sized amount of fluoride toothpaste, and children 3+ should use a pea sized amount of fluoride toothpaste, even if the child is swallowing it.
• A child needs help from a grown up when brushing and flossing until at least age 8.
• Create a good diet that is low in starchy carbohydrates and low in sugar, with designated snack and meal times.
• Milk and no more than 4oz of juice in an open cup can be enjoyed one time a day with a meal.

By establishing a good routine with homecare and diet, we can set a child up for success with oral hygiene. By being able to instill good habits at an early age, this will hopefully set the child up for a lifetime of good oral health. A child’s first set of teeth are important for a number of reasons:

• A child will have their primary teeth until around age 12.
• Primary teeth are place holders for permanent teeth. Early loss of primary teeth can cause spacing issues for erupting permanent teeth.
• A full set of healthy teeth contributes to self confidence, smiling, chewing and eating food, and speech development.

Bringing your child to a pediatric dentist early on helps create a fun and positive experience for future dental visits. As a provider, I love being able to create a good foundation and help prevent traumas or fears. The most rewarding part of my job is when I see a child work through any trauma, fear or phobias that they may have been struggling with, like my hygienist did when I was a child. Seeing them be able to confidently sit down in the chair, and leave with a smile on their face fills me with joy. I am happy to be part of Just For Kids Pediatric Dentistry mission to provide an enjoyable, safe and friendly environment with a focus on high quality care and education for our patients and their families.

Don’t forget to give me a wave if you see me at your school going over the importance of a healthy smile. Just For Kids Pediatric Dentistry provides this service to local schools preschool through first grade. We strive to put big smiles on little faces!