How Can I Help My Children Enjoy a Lifetime of Smiles?
February is Children’s Dental Health Month
What’s better than seeing your child smile? Not much!
We celebrate National Children’s Dental Health Month every February, visiting schools and teaching young children about taking care of their smiles.
Our focus is fun—children know how important it is to brush, floss and eat a healthy diet, but it’s best when they hear it from a few different sources. Our puppets and presentations are all smiles and laughter, making brushing teeth a fun daily practice.
We know – because we’re parents too—kids who might give mom or dad a hard time at bedtime will have a different response when a special guest shows up in the classroom to tell them how important brushing twice a day is for their smiles.
Healthy dental habits last a lifetime and learning to take great care of your smile early in life is a win-win for parents and children. Good health begins with oral health. Good dental health takes time, and children benefit from being reminded how to brush their teeth properly, how to floss, and what kind of foods promote healthy teeth. Sugary drinks, including fruit juices, can lead to tooth decay. Gummy candies do too, but there are plenty of healthy choices, like crunchy carrots and fresh apples.
Just as important as limiting sweet snacks and beverages is protecting children’s teeth from sports injuries with a custom-fit mouthguard.
The American Association of Orthodontists and Dr. Inna Gellerman recommend that children have an orthodontic check up by seven years of age. At this age, most kids have at least eight permanent or adult teeth at this time. It’s the best time for Dr. Gellerman to see if the jaw is growing correctly. If the child’s palate is not wide enough to accommodate their adult teeth, a palate expander could be used to prevent the need for oral surgery or tooth extraction later on. If there are adult teeth coming out in the wrong place, they can be corrected before there’s a problem.
Celebrate National Children’s Health Month with us!
Let our office know if you’d like our team to visit your school for a fun program.
Schedule an orthodontic checkup for your 7-year old child. The check up is free, and we’ll make sure your child receives a fun coloring book and goody-bag to encourage healthy habits.