February is National Children's Dental Health Month, but
keeping your child's smile beautiful is important all
year long. With proper care and regular dental visits,
it is possible for many children to reach adulthood without
experiencing tooth decay.
"Parents need to take an active role in helping their children
develop good oral health habits," says Col.
Gary Martin, D.D.S., M.P.H.,
Director of the Dental Care Division, TRICARE Management
Activity. "Brushing, flossing and visiting the dentist on a
regular basis all aid in the prevention and early detection of
oral health problems."
As every busy parent knows, getting your children to take care of
their teeth can be a real challenge. To help them be a part of the
cavity-free generation, the American Dental Association
(ADA) recommends the following :
Brush twice a day with a soft toothbrush
to remove food and plaque, the sticky film on teeth that'
the main cause of tooth decay. Brushing thoroughly should
take at least three minutes. Use an egg timer to show kids
how long they should brush.
Use an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste
to make teeth stronger. Only a pea-sized dab of toothpaste
is needed when brushing. Parents should watch their children
brush to make sure that they don't eat or swallow
the toothpaste.
Floss daily to remove plaque from between
the teeth and under the gumline, before it hardens into
tartar. Once tartar has formed, it can only be removed
by a professional cleaning. You can help your children floss
once they reach age 3 or 4, but they likely won't be
able to floss on their own until they are 8 to 10 years old.
Provide a balanced diet, limiting the
frequency of sugary snacks, which produce plaque acids.
Serve nutritious snacks instead and save “fun
foods” for special times. If your child chews gum
or sips soda, choose those without sugar.
Make sure that your children's
drinking water is fluoridated. When applied to the teeth,
fluoride combines with the enamel (outside layer)
to make teeth more resistant to decay. If your water
supply does not contain fluoride, your dentist or
pediatrician may prescribe daily fluoride supplements.
Take your child to a dentist around his
or her first birthday. Your dentist will recommend
checkups at intervals that suit your child's needs.
Children usually need more frequent dental visits than
adults. This is because baby teeth are smaller and have
thinner enamel, so decay can spread very quickly. Frequent
checkups will help your dentist identify and treat decay
early, before the development of a toothache.
"An important tip for preparing
your child for a lifetime of oral health is to acquaint
them with the dentist and the dental office early in
life," says Cmdr. Robert Mitton,
D.D.S., M.P.H.,
Deputy Director of Dental Care Division, TRICARE Management
Activity. "Having a positive dental experience at a
young age will allow your child to feel more at ease in
the dental office environment and, more importantly, begin
the process of early diagnosis and disease prevention."
Of course, dentists are happy to educate parents about
preventing dental diseases. Talk to your dentist about
the care and development of your child's teeth and how
to prevent early childhood caries (baby bottle tooth decay).
One of the best advantages of being part of a dental
plan like the TDP is that two examinations and
cleanings per year by a network dentist are free of
charge. So make sure you use your benefit and schedule an
appointment for your child's dental check up today.
These regular visits can significantly reduce the need
for costly dental treatment. Neglect of your child's
oral health can lead to complex treatment requiring
general anesthesia in an operating room setting.
