National Children’s Dental Health Month (NCDHM) runs all throughout the month of February. The American Dental Association (ADA) uses this month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health by providing materials that can be used in schools, communities, and even in your own home.
According to the ADA, “Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children to get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.” Here are a few tips for helping your child develop healthy dental health habits.
- Have regular conversations with your child about why teeth brushing is so important to a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums. Don’t just talk about it once. Keep the conversation going all year long.
- Review proper toothbrushing techniques with your child every single year. It is easy to assume that your child already knows how to brush his or her teeth, but even adults often overlook important things like brushing the backside of teeth, brushing the tongue, and brushing longer instead of harder.
- Maintain a dental insurance plan. A good dental health insurance plan will encourage you to schedule and keep your dental appointments which is an essential part of maintaining healthy teeth and preventing cavities or dental diseases from sneaking up in the future.
- Start taking your child to the dentist early in life. According to StandfordChildrens.Org, “Your child’s first dental visit is to help your child feel comfortable with the dentist. The first dental visit is recommended by 12 months of age, or within 6 months of the first tooth coming in…Just like adults, children should see the dentist every 6 months. Some dentists may schedule visits more often, such as every 3 months. This can build comfort and confidence in the child. More frequent visits can also help keep an eye on a development problem.”
Dental Games for You To Download
Have fun promoting dental health month at home! Visit the ADA website and download some of their dental games and posters to use with your children. Set up a toothbrushing station to practice brushing teeth with your young child and follow up these kinds of experiences by giving your child the gift of a new toothbrush and toothpaste!
