The month of February is a time for dentists, parents, and educators in the Staten Island community (and the US, as a whole) to come together and reflect on the importance of dental health in early childhood.
It’s a moment to sit back and ask ourselves, “How can we do better?” and “How can we be better?”
That’s why we celebrate National Children's Dental Health Month (NCDHM).
It all started as a single-day event in Cleveland, Ohio, on Feb. 3, 1941. The American Dental Association (ADA) joined in on the fun in 1949 and expanded it to a week-long event in 1955 – later expanding it to a month in 1981. Ever since then, February has been crowned National Children's Dental Health Month.
That brings us to 2024 – a new year, a new theme.
This year’s theme, chosen by the ADA, was ‘Healthy Habits for Healthy Smiles’ – a theme that hits home for us here at Healthy Smiles as we continue our commitment to the youth community in Staten Island.
By educating children and parents on the importance of regular dental care, proper brushing and flossing techniques, and the role of a nutritious diet in oral health, we can prevent the onset of disease and build a foundation of good habits that will ensure your child’s smile remains bright and healthy for years to come.
As parents, it’s important that we educate ourselves on some of the challenges our children face on their dental health journey. When we know what to avoid, we can put them in a better position to succeed.
With that said, let’s take a look at some of the most common dental problems children face often:
So, what can parents do to prevent these dental problems?
Three things – oral hygiene, healthy diet, and regular dental appointments.
By teaching your child the importance of those three things, you can help them prevent dental issues and instill positive habits at an early age that benefit them throughout childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.
Proper dental hygiene begins the day your child is born. In their earliest days, parents should regularly clean their baby’s gums by gently rubbing a damp washcloth over the gums after each feeding.
Once that first tooth comes in, start teaching them the ways of brushing, flossing, rinsing, and repeating.
Here are some of our most useful dental hygiene tips for young children:
Prioritizing proper dental hygiene in children is an investment in their future, and promotes not only their oral health, but also their overall physical health, social confidence, and psychological well-being.
The gums, teeth, tongue, and other structures of the mouth are no different than the rest of your body – they need nutrients just like everything else. Without nutrition, these structures will eventually fail us.
So, where do these nutrients come from?
Their diet, of course!
Here are some of the most important nutrients for dental health:
With that said, dental health is more than just adding certain nutrients to your diet – we also have to avoid certain foods and beverages that only mean harm. Sticky candies, sweets, starchy foods, refined sugar, carbonated soft drinks, dried fruits, and flavored drinks should be avoided as much as possible.
We get it – not every child enjoys going to the dentist. But not going to the dentist only makes the problem worse – the earlier they’re exposed to the environment, the more comfortable they’ll feel as they get older.
Of course, it also gives your dentist an opportunity to detect dental problems in their earliest stages – ensuring treatment begins in a timely manner. Here are some of the other benefits of regular dental visits:
Don’t worry – at Healthy Smiles, we take extra steps to prevent dental anxiety and ensure your child has a memorable experience with us. We want this to be as positive and uplifting for your child as possible.
Celebrating National Children’s Dental Health Month is important to us here at Healthy Smiles, but we also want to stress the importance of year-round dental health – let’s not forget that it’s a daily grind!
While that starts at home, we’re here when you need us!
Is your child complaining about a toothache? Are they having a hard time eating? Do they often talk about how much they dislike their smile? Or how they like someone else’s smile more than their own?
Better yet, has it been more than six months since their last trip to the dentist?
If you answered ‘yes’ to any of those questions, then it might be time to schedule an appointment with Dr. Joseph Cipriano and his team at Healthy Smiles. Don’t worry – your child’s oral health is in good hands!
