February is National Children’s Dental Health Month! Dental health is acknowledged each February to raise awareness about the importance of good oral health. Educating children about good oral hygiene habits at a young age along with regular dental visits will help them to achieve lifelong healthy teeth and gums. This means it’s the perfect time to brush up on good oral health habits!
Help Your Child Avoid Cavities
Cavities are holes or decay in the teeth. Fortunately, there are easy steps you can take to prevent them. Here are some ways you can help prevent cavities and tooth decay for your child:
- For infants, do not use honey or other sweets on your baby’s pacifier
- Avoid putting your child to bed with a bottle. If you do, fill it with water only.
- Choose milk or water between meals instead of sweet, sugary drinks.
- Brush your child’s teeth or rinse your child’s mouth after every meal. This can protect against plaque buildup which causes decay.
- Limit the amount of sweet foods and drinks.
- For snacks between meals, stick to fruits and vegetables.
In addition to preventing cavities, maintaining good oral health also has a positive impact on overall health. Here are some ways taking care of your smile can improve your overall health:
- Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can help children feel good mentally and physically, and prevent certain diseases.
- Teeth help with speech and speech development.
- A healthy smile improves self-esteem.
At Grove Avenue Family & Cosmetic Dentistry we are committed to maintaining and improving the dental health for patients of all ages. Take a moment to teach your child (and yourself) how to take care of teeth, gums and the mouth properly! If you have any questions, feel free to contact us (804) 285-1378! We are dedicated to keeping your child healthy and smiling bright with good dental health.