February is National Children's Dental Health Month
Published: February 1, 2022
We’re just coming off several holidays with a lot of sweet treats and snacks, drinks and desserts. That, coupled with a long break from school can mean grazing in-between meals is at an all-time high.
Thankfully, there are a few simple steps during mealtime to minimize damage to your children’s teeth and gums to ensure the mouth monsters (a.k.a. tooth decay) don’t take away from your favorite holiday traditions. Dr. Jeannie Beauchamp, president of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, shares her top teeth tips to help your family enjoy together time and still have a cavity-free smile for family photos.
Schedule (or reschedule) those dental appointments ASAP. Like many other medical appointments, pediatric dental check-ups have been pushed off during the pandemic, causing cavity-prone kids. Beauchamp has noticed an increase in cavities, tooth decay and longer cleaning times in patients. Preventive dental appointments not only catch compromised teeth but offer children educational reinforcement on proper dental cleaning and habits. Leaving cavities untreated can result in larger, lasting health issues. Consider scheduling your children’s dental check-ups now or during any school holidays when kids are off school and have more downtime.
Teeth are NOT tools. Teeth are excellent for eating, drinking and enunciating. But spare those tiny teeth when it comes to opening things such as snacks or packages. This can lead to weakened enamel and expensive and painful repairs.
Avoid constant snacking. Limit in-between meal snacking to prevent unwanted wear and tear on teeth that can cause the tooth enamel to weaken and lead to tooth decay or cavities. Beauchamp adds that many children might have fallen into a pattern of grazing throughout the day due to digital learning and encourages families to set boundaries when snacking.
Keep a routine. Right after the holidays and during at-home learning, it’s easy for routines to become difficult to follow. Make brushing and flossing a priority and ensure kids brush thoroughly for two minutes at least twice a day. Keeping a routine means preventive dental appoints as well. With regular pediatric dental appointments, there are fewer dental emergencies.
Water, water, water! Drinking water in between meals encourages saliva, washes away bacteria/food debris, and neutralizes plaque acids. This includes drinking fluoridated water, proven to keep teeth strong and reduce cavities.
Courtesy of BrandPoint.com