Healthy Mouths Happy Children !
During February most of us in New England start looking forward to Spring but dentists look forward to February because it is National Children’s Dental Health Month. During this month dental professionals will raise awareness about the importance of children’s oral health. Why do we need a whole month to raise awareness? Let’s look at some facts,
– Tooth decay in children is 5 times more common than asthma and 7 times more common than hay fever.
– Gum disease is contagious, parents can transfer the bacteria in saliva to their children by sharing spoons.
– According to the Academy of General Dentistry, more than 51 million school hours are lost each year due to dental-related illnesses.
– Almost 50% of tooth decay remains untreated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
– Tooth decay affects more than one-fourth of children aged 2–5 years and half of those aged 12–15 years.
– According to a study, children in the Los Angeles School District who had tooth pain performed poorly in school.
Despite these seemingly staggering dental health statistics, many children still do not visit the dentist. It’s not their fault, caregivers need to make dental health for children a priority…
Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease in children and is almost entirely preventable. The good news is there are safe and effective preventive measures that can protect teeth and this is the main reason that we use the month of February to raise awareness. Good oral hygiene practices such as thorough brushing with a fluoride toothpaste can help keep children from getting cavities. In addition, dental sealants and community water fluoridation are two other strategies that can help prevent tooth decay. Eat healthy and remember the rule of two – Brush for two minutes, 2 times per day, don’t forget to floss.
At Modern Smiles Dental Care, Burlington dentists, Dr. Sarita Malhotra treats both children and adults. During the month of February she is visiting schools with her pet dinosaur to educate children about oral health. In case your school would like to invite her, please call her office at 781-505-1900 to schedule a time. Make sure as a caregiver you are doing what you can to instill good dental health habits with your little ones. It is a shared responsibility between the parents, teachers and your dentist.