February is Oral Health Awareness Month. It’s a good time for families to review the preventative measures they are taking to make sure their kids’ teeth, gums and mouth remain healthy.
Ignoring our infants’ and preschoolers’ oral health can set the stage for serious health as well as social and emotional problems into adulthood, says a report by The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services. Dental problems in childhood can result in poor nutrition, pain, embarrassment, lost school days and occasionally severe or life-threatening infections.
The Early Childhood Dental Network (ECDN) of west central Minnesota encourages parents and care providers to do these things:
· Clean your child's teeth or gums after each feeding. Rinse the mouth out with water, at the very least.
· Never give a bottle in bed, or use sippy cups unless they contain only water. Why? Liquid from the bottle or sippy cup pools around the child's teeth, providing food for bacteria. The bacteria form acids that dissolve tooth enamel, causing decay.
· Bring your child in to see the dental team as soon as the first tooth erupts. Make sure to schedule regular dental appointments. The ECDN is offering dental outreach clinics throughout the region for children 0-12 whose families are on Minnesota Health Care Programs.
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