DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. It is important to develop good oral hygiene habits at an early age. This article is to help parents and caregivers with tips and tricks on encouraging children to take care of their teeth to achieve a healthier smile.
Emphasize the significance of maintaining a healthy diet. Foods and drinks with higher sugar content like milk and juices create an unstable environment for caries or “cavities” to develop. The acidic byproducts of certain foods weaken teeth. Even though baby teeth do eventually come out, if the cavity goes untreated it could potentially harm developing adult teeth and cause further problems down the road.
Another tip to help prevent cavities is good oral hygiene. Encourage children to be proactive by letting them pick out their own toothbrush and toothpaste. Giving children this opportunity to choose their own flavors and designs can get them wanting to brush their teeth more.
Parents and caregivers should brush their teeth along with their children. If they see you as the parent doing it, they will most likely want to mimic what you are doing. Playing their favorite songs can also make brushing their teeth a fun experience for them.
A few things to remember; toothbrushes are recommended to be replaced every two to three months and children should be assisted in flossing until they are 12 years old.
Lastly, teens should be checked on to make sure their brushing techniques are up to par.
The 355th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron’s Dental Flight will be hosting an event to cover more tips and tricks for Children’s Dental Health Month on Feb. 25 at 3 p.m. This event will be at DM’s Youth Center parking lot with dental demonstrations and free goodie bags.
If you have any questions, call the 355th OMRS Dental Flight at (520) 228-2650 and additional resources available at: ada.org