"Smile, pass it on!"
That's the message the Sudbury and District Health Unit is promoting during Oral Health Month this April.
"Parents play a big role in the healthy development of their children's teeth and overall oral health," said Julie Lahti, a dental hygienist with the health unit's Dental Health Program. "One of the best ways to keep their child's smile healthy for life is to start good oral health habits early."
Dental caries or decay is the most common chronic childhood disease in Canada, stated a news release. It can cause pain and infection and affects learning, communication, nutrition and sleep. Dental caries can also cause lowered body weight, chronic inflammation and contribute to problems with children's adult teeth, even if they are not yet present. Research has shown that oral health contributes to a child's overall health, growth and development, as well as mental and social well-being.
The Ontario Association of Public Health Dentistry recommends children see a dentist by their first birthday, and every six months afterwards.
Here are some tips to help care for the oral health of school-aged children:
- Supervise a child's tooth brushing until they are eight
years old.
- Use a soft-bristled, child-sized toothbrush and replace it
every two to three months.
- Use a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste and make
sure the child spits it out.
- Have a child brush their teeth twice a day for at least two
minutes.
- Help children learn how to use dental floss. Flossing once a
day cleans between the teeth where the toothbrush cannot reach.
- Avoid sweet and chewy snack foods. Offer sweets at mealtime
as dessert.
- If a child can't brush after eating, they can rinse with
water, chew sugar-free gum or eat a piece of cheese.
- Have a child wear a mouth guard when playing contact sports.
- Take a child to the dentist regularly.
- Talk to the dentist about coating the pits and grooves in a
child's molars with sealants.
Good oral health habits and regular visits to the dentist will
ensure a child has a healthy smile for life and grows up to be
a healthier adult, according to the news release.
For more information, call the Sudbury and District Health Unit Dental Program at 522-9200, ext. 225, or toll-free at 1-866-522-9200.
