Start your youngster early with good dental health

Every year UHS joins with other healthcare organizations around the country to celebrate National Children’s Dental Health Month. This month-long observance reinforces the importance of oral health in children as well as helping parents with tips to keep their child’s smile on track. Your UHS dentists and their team are taking this opportunity to share oral health tips and raise awareness of the importance of pediatric dental care at an early age.

While daily brushing is an important part of a child’s oral hygiene routine, bacteria that cause tooth decay can still linger between teeth where the toothbrush can’t reach. That’s why it’s so important to help your kids incorporate flossing into their daily routine.

Early childhood tooth decay has become the most common chronic childhood disease, impacting more children than asthma. According to the American Dental Association, more than 40 percent of children have tooth decay by the time they reach kindergarten. Additionally, kids who suffer from poor oral health are three times more likely to miss school as a result of dental pain.

Here are a few helpful tips for parents to start their youngsters off right with oral health and hygiene:

Begin brushing with the first tooth: Start brushing your baby’s teeth when you see one coming in, using an infant toothbrush. Use water and a tiny bit of fluoride toothpaste (about the size of a grain of rice).

Brush twice each day for two minutes: Children ages 2 to 6 should use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Always supervise kids younger than six years old while brushing, as they are more likely to swallow toothpaste.

Snack healthy: Fruit juice, sports drinks, fruit snacks and sticky candies all pose serious threats to your child’s teeth. Give kids calcium-rich snacks like cheese or low-sugar yogurt. If you have to resort to candy, a chocolate bar is preferable to gummy or sticky sweets that can get lodged between the teeth, even after brushing.

Keep your child hydrated: Water helps to rinse away sugar or particles that can lead to cavities. Many municipal water sources also contain fluoride, recommended by the ADA and the U.S. Surgeon General, among others, as an efficient way to prevent tooth decay.

To learn more about UHS Dental Services, click here.