Sugar Wars: Children’s Dental Health Month

February is a month full of interesting topics to celebrate such as Black History Month, Groundhog Day, Valentine’s Day and one lesser known event, which is Children’s Dental Health Month. This is a month to raise awareness about dental health for our kids, one of the cutest and most innocent groups full with the freshest set of teeth.  Those newly developed teeth need to be maintained properly and the 75th Children’s Dental Health Month is the perfect time to start by grabbing a toothbrush, some toothpaste, using floss as often as possible, and scheduling an appointment with your dentist at least twice a year. Good dental habits developed at an early age can really impact the health of a person’s teeth throughout their lifetime.

This year’s Dental Health Month theme is “Sugar Wars,” which focuses on the direct effect a child’s diet can have on their teeth.  The slogan reads, “Brush two minutes, two times a day. Clean between your teeth daily. Limit snacks, eat healthy meals. Visit your dentist regularly.” Children often times are tempted to eat high sugar foods, which can have a detrimental effect on their teeth.  A common misconception parents have about their children is that since baby teeth will eventually fall out, there is no cause for concern to keep these teeth as healthy as possible. This is not the best practice for a child’s dental health.

Here are some interesting dental statistics pertaining to our kids (adapted from dentalpatientnews.com):

• Childhood tooth decay is 5 times more common than asthma and 7 more times common than hay fever
• Gum disease is contagious; parents can transfer bacteria in their salvia to their kids by sharing utensils, straws, etc.
• 51 million school hours are lost each year due to dental-related illnesses, according to the Academy of General Dentistry
• 50% of tooth decay remains untreated in low-income children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Tooth decay affects more than 25% of U.S. children from 2-5 years old and 50% of ages 12-15 years
• One study showed children in the Los Angeles School District who had tooth pain were 4 times more likely to have a GPA below the median GPA of 2.8.

These statistics bring attention to the necessity for child dental care because poor oral hygiene can influence a child’s ability to learn, which will cause long term problems.

The best way to prevent dental issues for our children is to start influencing good oral habits at an early age. After all, who doesn’t love a great smile full of healthy looking teeth?  Here are some oral habits to start promoting in children (adapted from www.colgate.com):

• Brush teeth often, at least 2 times a day for 2 minutes, especially after eating a meal
• Teach your children how to floss, especially when they feel something in between their teeth
• At 12 months old a child can start using toothpaste and a toothbrush
• Check your child’s mouth frequently for signs of gum disease or any other teeth problems
• Make sure to schedule appointments at the dentist twice a year
• Have fun taking care of your teeth and your child’s teeth!

Make sure to honor Children’s Dental Health Month by taking care of your teeth and spreading the knowledge!