Children's dental health...it's all about prevention!
It’s National Children’s Dental Health Month! We figured a nice message about kids dental health should be shared.
This message is all about PREVENTION.
If we can start our kids on the path to optimal oral health early enough by setting a positive example with a healthy diet and a diligent daily dental hygiene routine, then our children will emulate us by developing their own dental hygiene habits that will serve them well from the time they are kids, through adulthood.
Why the Prevention Message?
Pediatric dental disease is 5 times more common than asthma and 7 times more common than hay fever.
Left untreated, pediatric dental disease – or tooth decay – can lead to kids being malnourished, bacterial infections, required emergency surgery, or worse.
At our Lake City MN dentist office we are most concerned with communicating all aspects of preventive care to parents.
One highly recommended approach to improve oral health for our kids and limit the damaging effects of tooth decay is the use of dental sealants.
Dental sealants are space-age plastics that are bonded to the chewing surfaces of decay-prone back teeth. Highly effective in preventing decay on the biting surfaces of your chewing teeth, dental sealants are a simple procedure in which a tooth-colored acrylic “coating” is painted onto the surface of the tooth. This effectively “seals” the deep grooves, acting as a barrier and protecting enamel from plaque and acids.
Sealants protect the depressions and grooves of your teeth from food particles and plaque that brushing and flossing can’t reach.
Easy to apply, sealants take only a few minutes to seal each tooth. Sealants hold up well under the force of normal chewing and can last several years before a reapplication is needed.
The even better news is that both children and adults can benefit from dental sealants in the fight against tooth decay.
Watch a video about sealants here:
Most of us at Pepin Valley Dental are parents ourselves, so we understand how difficult it can be to try to prevent a child from eating candy, drinking soda, or over-indulging in any other sugar-laden foods or drinks.
But that doesn’t mean just because it’s difficult that it doesn’t get done!
Lots of times the very formation of tooth decay (cavities) is directly due to the child’s diet – usually one quite high in sugary foods.
If parents can again pave the way for our kids with positive dietary habits, they can learn the value of cavity prevention from an early age.
The other major culprit with kids tooth decay is a simple lack of brushing their teeth.
To kids, brushing our teeth doesn’t have to be a chore. If parents take the time to participate in the process rather than just mandating it be done, maybe our kids can learn proper prevention from a more positive standpoint.
And with all the tooth-brushing apps, Bluetooth toothbrushes, Bieber brushes, countdown timers, & even music players to entertain us while we brush, there are no more excuses to NOT setting a positive example when it comes to our kids brushing their teeth.
Two minutes, twice a day is the going recommendation!
Here's our 6 tips for cavity prevention – for children & adults:
1. Limit frequency of meals and snacks.
2. Encourage brushing, flossing and rinsing.
3. Watch what your child drinks.
4. Avoid giving your child sticky foods.
5. Make treats part of meals.
6. Choose nutritious snacks.