Did you know that February is National Children’s Dental Care Month? The annual observance, which began as a one-day event in 1941, was expanded to a week-long event in the 1950s by The American Dental Association (ADA) and subsequently extended to an entire month in 1981. Since 1941, the observance has grown from being held in just two cities to a nationwide program. Today, National Children’s Dental Care Month’s messages reach thousands of children and families across the country.
This year’s NCDHM campaign slogan is “Sugar Wars” and aims to help children develop good dental care habits at an early age, which will lead to a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums. The ADA website provides resources to help enable dental care professionals, health care providers, teachers and parents to promote the benefits of dental care to children. The resources for 2016 include easy-to-do activities such as games, puzzles and coloring sheets that can be printed out.
National Children’s Dental Care Month Tips
Wondering what can you do to help ensure your child’s oral health? Smiles of Bellevue has put together a few dental health tips.
Understand their dental care needs
Talk to your child’s dentist about any special conditions they may have and any ways in which their medical or health conditions might affect their teeth and dental health.
Brush and floss daily
Children should brush thoroughly at least twice a day and floss once a day. Better yet, they should brush after every meal or snack. The ADA recommends they use a soft-bristled brush with a size and shape that fits their mouth and allows them to reach all teeth easily.
Eat a balanced diet and limit snack between meals
Children should eat a variety of foods to keep their bodies healthy. However, it’s important to avoid or limit foods that contain sugars and starches. These foods produce the most acids in the mouth, which cause plaque and promote tooth decay.
Visit the dentist regularly
The ADA recommends that children should visit the dentist twice a year for check-ups and cleanings. Also, babies should begin visiting the dentist once their first tooth starts to appear.
Follow the tips outlined above and your children will be on the road to “Defeat Monster Mouth” in no time. If you need to schedule a dentist appointment for your child, visit Smiles of Bellevue online at https://www.smilesofbellevue.com or by phone at (425) 455-2424.
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