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October Is National Dental Hygiene Month
October is National Dental Hygiene Month, which means it’s time to brush up on your dental hygiene habits.
Did you know that 23% of children aged 2-5 years had dental caries in primary teeth? Untreated tooth decay in primary teeth among children 2-8 was twice as high for Hispanics and non-Hispanic black children compared with non-Hispanic white children. Dental caries or cavities are generally treated by mechanical removal of decayed tooth structure and replacement with Dental restorative materials, which can sometimes be a scary process for young children to endure. For some patients, SDF, or Silver Diamine Fluoride, can be provided as an alternative to traditional restorative dentistry, which can re-mineralize tooth structure and may also kill bacteria, to help prevent future caries. While SDF is a good alternative to aide young children with dental caries, the best way to ensure your children don’t fall victim to poor dental health is by introducing good oral hygiene practices at a young age.
As a parent or caregiver, you can start demonstrating good dental hygiene when your child is a baby. It is recommended that you run a clean cloth over your baby’s gums twice a day. This helps keep your babies mouth clean and free of bacteria. Once your baby’s teeth start coming in, you should brush their teeth twice a day with a soft bristle toothbrush. You can look at this as the start of your child’s brushing routine that will stick with them as they grow into adults and throughout life.
As your child gets older, set times for your child to brush in the morning and before bed. Encourage your child to stick with a routine that includes brushing at least twice a day and flossing. We recommend using fluoride toothpaste as it helps strengthen tooth enamel and removes plaque build-up more effectively during brushing to help prevent tooth decay.
It’s also important to note that your baby’s first visit to the dentist should occur before they turn one. Then it is recommended that your child visits the dentist every six months thereafter, unless suggested differently from your dentist.
Our dental team at SIHF Healthcare is dedicated to providing expert oral healthcare. We offer a wide range of services, including: general assessments, cleanings, fluoride treatments, restorative care, extractions, sedation, sealants, and special needs dentistry. Please note that our healthcare centers only provide dental services to patients under 21 years old. However, we do accept Medicaid and AllKids, which allows our health centers to treat children who are sometimes denied the dental care they need. To find your nearest SIHF Healthcare Dental Center, visit http://www.sihf.org/health-centers.