Children’s Dental Health Month with a Pediatric Dentist in Mesquite

If you’re a parent, you probably think about your kids’ health all the time. However, their oral health is often easy to forget. February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, which is an effort to raise awareness on the importance of oral health for little ones. How they care for their mouth now can actually affect them for the rest of their lives. Thankfully, your dentist has some easy tips you can use to help your kids stay healthy.

Why is Oral Healthcare for Children Important?

Before getting into some at-home tips, you should understand why children’s dental health is important. Unfortunately, one of the leading chronic health issues in children is tooth decay. In some areas of the country, more kids have cavities that cause other health problems than asthma. Cavities and tooth decay can lead to more problems like:

• Persistent pain in their mouth
• Infections or abscesses
• Trouble chewing, which affects their appetite
• Attention issues and even depression

Studies show that children with dental issues are more likely to have poor academic performance than those with a healthy mouth. A huge reason for this is because kids miss an estimated 51 million hours of school each year for oral health problems. Additionally, chronic pain or infection can cause your son or daughter to be distracted in school, which is one of the reasons why children that experience oral health pain are 4 times more likely to have a lower GPA than those without.

How Can I Help Prevent Dental Issues for My Children?

When children don’t have dental issues hindering their learning, they will have a higher likelihood to excel in education. Additionally, the sooner they get into healthy habits, the more likely they will be to take care of their smile as they grow older. To set them up for oral health success, follow these tips:

• Your kids should brush their teeth twice a day, for 2 minutes each. You can brush with them, playing one of their favorite songs to make it a fun experience.
• Make sure they are flossing their teeth daily to remove plaque and debris. A good tip for parents is to keep pre-strung floss picks in your purse or bag for flossing on-the-go.
• Try to substitute sugary beverages for water. Most tap water contains fluoride, which is a natural cavity fighting mineral. Sugar is also one of the leading causes of cavities.
• Ask your children’s dentist in Mesquite about dental sealants once their permanent teeth grow in to protect your kids from tooth decay.

Now that you know why it’s vital to help your kids take care of their smile, use these prevention tips to set your little ones up for success in the future.

About the Practice

At Bear Creek Family Dentistry, we treat patients of all ages. We have pediatric dentists who have completed years of additional training and education to specialize in caring for children’s smiles. For any questions, our dentists can be contacted through their website or by phone at (972) 331-5300.