Celebrate National Children’s Dental Health Month!

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February 3rd, 2016



Though big holidays and celebrations like Valentine’s Day and President’s Day occur in the month of February, one of the most important events goes on all month long: National Children’s Health Month.

Give your child a lifetime of healthy smiles. Here’s how!

Consider Sealants:

If your child is at higher risk for getting tooth decay (the best predictor: any previous fillings), you should talk to your dentist about putting sealants on their molar teeth. The reason: This thin, plastic coating helps protect teeth from bacteria, especially down in the pits and grooves of teeth. If bacteria can’t get through, decay can’t form, effectively preventing cavities. And it takes just a few minutes per tooth to provide this protection.

Wear Mouthguards:

As your children start to participate in sports, it’s important to have them fitted for mouthguards. Young athletes who don’t wear mouthguards are 60 times more likely to injure their teeth compared to those who do protect their mouths. Whether it is a simple boil-and-bite mouthguard purchased at a store or a custom-fit model made by the dentist, mouthguards protect teeth and soft mouth tissues from injuries during sports like football, basketball, baseball, volleyball and skateboarding – just to name a few.

Keep Healthy Foods on Hand:

Eating healthy will go a long way. Snacks with calcium cheese and yogurt- help build strong bones and teeth. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, so look for milk and cereal that have been fortified with it. Fatty fish, such as salmon, are also good sources of Vitamin D. And of course, you should minimize how much sugar and soda your kids consume.