With February being National Children’s Dental Health Month—as sponsored by The American Dental Association—it’s a great time to talk about our children’s teeth. Dental care introduced at an early age is important to create a lifetime of healthy oral hygiene habits.
While it’s recommended that you introduce your child to the dentist at age one, nearly half of all children ages 2 to 5 have never seen the dentist. Serious health conditions can result from poor oral hygiene.
According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, 42 percent of children ages 2 to 11 have cavities on their primary (baby) teeth. Unfortunately, Black and Latino children are among those who have the highest incidence of decay.
These early visits are crucial. In fact, when a child’s first tooth appears, parents should make an appointment with the dentist.
He or she can discuss with parents topics of nutrition, evaluate dietary intake which can affect teeth and gums, and help parents establish healthy oral hygiene habits for their children. Regular preventative checkups should be scheduled every six months.
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source: BlackDoctor.org
