February is Children’s Dental Health Month

In February, the annual time for resolution-making has come and gone (and often our resolutions have, too!), but there’s one resolution you should never give up on – your family’s oral health.

February is Children’s Dental Health Month and an annual reminder of the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene and establishing healthy habits at a young age. In fact, did you know you should schedule a dental visit for your child within six months of the first tooth eruption or by your child’s first birthday? Dental decay can occur as soon as teeth appear, so getting started early is key to a lifetime of healthy smiles.

There are many other reasons for getting your child on the right track when it comes to oral health, including:

• Fewer Missed Days of School (and Work). Often if your child is missing school, it means you’re staying home to take care of them. More than 1/3 of missed days of school are due to dental issues.
• Better Grades. We can’t promise straight A’s, but studies have shown that children with toothaches were four times more likely to have a low grade-point average. Poor dental health can lead to poor academic performance.
• Good Overall Health. Pediatric dental disease, or tooth decay, impacts more than oral health. Bacteria in the mouth can also spread to the body and eventually contribute to heart disease, stroke and more.

You can get your child on the path to a healthy smile by teaching them the basics: brush for two minutes twice per day, floss every day, eat sugary foods in moderation and visit the dentist regularly for checkups. It’s important to lead by example and take good care of your teeth, too. See you at your next appointment!

Sources:
http://dentistry.usc.edu/2012/08/10/poor-oral-health-can-mean-missed-school-lower-grades/
http://www.mouthhealthy.org/
http://www.deltadentalwi.com/Alert-Beyond-Benefits-Nov12

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