Why Good Dental Health is Important
Innumerable studies and research have concluded on the importance of starting children early in their lives with good dental hygiene and oral care. According to research, the most common chronic childhood disease in America is tooth decay, affecting 50 percent of first-graders and 80 percent of 17-year-olds. Early treatment prevents problems affecting a child’s health, well-being, self-image and overall achievement.

The National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research estimates that children will miss 52 million hours of school each year due to oral health problems and about 12.5 million days of restricted activity every year from dental symptoms. Because there is such a significant loss in their academic performance, the Surgeon General has made children’s oral health a priority.

Parents are responsible for ensuring their children practice good dental hygiene. Parents must introduce proper oral care early in a child's life—starting in infancy. The American Dental Hygiene Association states that a good oral hygiene routine for children includes:

• Thoroughly cleaning your infant’s gums after each feeding with a water-soaked infant cloth. This stimulates the gum tissue and removes food.
• Gently brushing your baby’s erupted teeth with a small, soft-bristled toothbrush and using a pea-sized amount of toothpaste.
• Use non-flouride(infant) toothpaste for children under age 2 unless your Pediatric Dentist recommends otherwise.  A pea-sized amount of flouride toothpaste is appropriate for children over age 2.
• Toddlers and pre-school aged children should have adult assisted toothbrushing. Brushing should be supervised in school aged children.
• Flossing should be dine whenever two adjacent teeth touch each other. A floss holder is helpful for children and adults. assitance with flossing is appropriate for school age children .
• Regular visits with their dentist to check for cavities in the primary teeth and for possible developmental problems.
• Encouraging your child to discuss any fears they may have about oral health visits, but not mentioning words like “pain” or “hurt,” since this may instill the possibility of pain in the child’s thought process.
• Determining sources of fluoride in your child's life and the need for additional supplements or fluoride rinses.
• Asking your hygienist or dentist about sealant applications to protect your child’s teeth-chewing surfaces and about bottle tooth decay, which occurs when teeth are frequently exposed to sugared liquids.
• Forming a plan for prevention of decay including oral hygiene, diet, fluoride or MI paste.