Encouraging kids to care for their oral hygiene is a tricky situation, and we totally understand if it’s something that doesn’t happen daily in your household. Sometimes even the adults forgets. It wont be the end of the world. Although, taking steps towards the right direction will last a life time. Young minds are developing brains which soak everything up like sponges. They take everything in. It’s amazing the amount of guidance and role we play into children’s lives. It’s a big reason we want to set a good example. Good oral hygiene is one of those. Our office in Camas, Washington had the special privilege to show and tell Grass Valley elementary school the importance of getting proper oral health care for their growing and moving teeth. During our visit Radiance Dental had ranges or age groups from kindergarten through 4th graders. As well as their awesome staff members. We had students, and even staff, excited to engage in games, readings, and hands-on learning during our time together. We also brought with us our special friends, happy and sad tooth, and the tooth fairy to help capture the attention of learning, as well as visualizing the fun of good oral hygiene. Our amazing staff went over proper nutrition and diet, habits to stay away from, and good oral hygiene instructions to ensure every spot in their little and big mouths are left sparkly clean.
Dr.Bharathi showing hands-on how to brush our teeth clean
In separating our ways we had the students make a peculiar vow while raising their right hand to say, “I will try my very best to brush twice a day, and floss once a day, every day, for the rest of my life.” The children were ecstatic to each receive their own individual goodie pouch filled with a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, and coupon for a free exam, cleaning and x-rays to our outstanding office, Radiance Dental.
Our awesome office, Radiance Dental in Camas, WA had such a blast preparing for this. And we had even more fun doing this memorable experience. Our office looks forward to doing it again next year too.
Things to know:
Oral health has been closely tied to the overall health of our entire body, so making sure that our children have the best oral health care can not only ensure that they have great smiles, but they are protected from the negative effects of poor oral health as well.
Oral health care should begin with the very first tooth that grows in your baby’s mouth. Even though these teeth will fall out within a few years, baby teeth hold a space for your child’s permanent ones, and it’s important that your child has a healthy mouth when those permanent teeth arrive. Without proper care, even baby teeth can decay and cause a host of problems, including:
• Painful teeth and gums
• Difficulty chewing, eating, and sleeping
• Gum disease and inflammation
• Embarrassment when talking and smiling
As a parent, you can teach your child the right way to care for teeth and make sure he or she visit the dentist for cleanings and checkups. Like we mentioned earlier kids learn by example. So go ahead and make a checkup for the both of you.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, almost 50 percent of children under 12 have some form of tooth decay, and it is one of the most common childhood diseases. A report by the National Institutes of Health, Oral Health in America, found that almost six out of ten children have cavities or other tooth decay (also called “caries”).
There are many things you can do to help your child maintain a healthy mouth with strong teeth and gums.
Brush your children’s teeth twice a day when they are babies, then teach them to do it on their own when they get older. Make it a tooth brushing party. Set the timer and dance together while you both brush and floss everything clean. Make it something your kids will never forget. Small moments like these will impact the most.
Be sure your child gets enough fluoride too —you can find out whether it is already in your drinking water, and provide supplements if it is not. If you are unsure how to get more fluoride, ask your primary doctor or Dr.Bharathi the next time you’re in for a prescription. In addition, make sure your child is brushing with fluoride toothpaste.
Feed your child a healthy diet, high in fruits and vegetables and low in added sugars. We especially recommend you avoid sugary drinks.
Helping children develop healthy habits to care for teeth while they are young is important. These habits can set the stage for good oral health care throughout their entire life. They can avoid many of the problems that result from poor oral health, including gum disease, cavities, and tooth decay. Start encouraging those habits now and help your children reap the benefits through the rest of their lives.
Children’s Oral Hygiene @ Grass Valley elementary school Camas, WA
