February is National Children's Dental Health Month (Part 1)

By MC Kelby HERWriter

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Each February, the American Dental Association (ADA) sponsors National Children's Dental Health Month (NCDHM) to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. NCDHM messages and materials have reached millions of people in communities across the country. Teaching children to care for their teeth is essential to ensure a lifetime of healthy smiles.

Oral care should begin long before a child has his first tooth. Caring for your baby's mouth will help you both get into the daily habit of caring for your teeth and gums. A baby’s mouth and gums can be gently swiped with a piece of gauze or wet washcloth at least once daily.

As the first tooth erupts, generally around 6 months of age, a small, soft toothbrush can be used. Toothpaste is not recommended until at least the age of two and then only use a pea-size amount. Ingesting large amounts of fluoride while teeth are forming can lead to a condition known as fluorosis (a white to brown staining of the teeth).

Brushing must be done by the parents until the child is proficient in cleaning his own teeth (about the age of 6). Children should be encouraged to have "their turn" in order to learn and develop a good habit. Also, parents should floss their child's teeth as soon as any two teeth touch together. Be sure to ask your hygienist about ways to accomplish this task more easily.

Fluoride is a mineral that makes teeth more resistant to decay. If your child is not consuming fluoridated water, be sure to ask your dentist or pediatrician about a prescription supplement.

Another preventative measure used in dentistry are sealants. Sealants are a plastic coating that covers the pits and fissures of the biting surfaces of teeth. These areas are usually inaccessible to your toothbrush where plaque and bacteria can flourish causing decay. Sealants are easily placed in the dental office with no anesthetic.

An important part of preventative care is your child's first visit to the dentist. A child’s first visit should be fun. A child who perceives the dental team as a friend rather than a foe will find visits much easier and is more likely to continue the life-long habit of regular dental cleanings.

Whether you're a parent, a teacher or member of a dental team, the ADA has FREE online resources that can help you with make oral health FUN for your child. The dental association also has games and puzzles your kids can play to learn more about keeping their teeth strong and healthy. For example, there are coloring and activity sheets that can be used to explain dental care. There are also booklets, videos and other materials available for purchase through the ADA Catalog.

Also, below are links that offer FREE fun activities regarding dental and oral health.

American Dental Association - Downloadable puzzles, games, & coloring pages
http://www.ada.org/prof/events/featured/ncdhm.asp

ADHA Kids Stuff- Provides links to activities and games related to children’s oral health.
http://webtech.kennesaw.edu/jcheek3/dentalhealth.htm

Apples4theteacher.com- Dental Health coloring pages make great practice activities for toddlers, preschool, and elementary children.
http://www.apples4theteacher.com/coloring-pages/dental-health/

Brushing & Flossing to a Healthy Smile - Third grade students experiment to determine how brushing and flossing removes plaque with this AskERIC lesson plan.
http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Health/Body_Systems_and_Senses/BSS0015.html

Colgate Kids World- Provides oral health games and activities for children of all ages.
http://www.colgate.com/app/Kids-World/US/HomePage.cvsp

DLTK's Crafts for Kids- Tooth fairy certificate, coloring activities, books, and other crafts are listed for NCDHM.
http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/miscellaneous/dental_health_month.htm

Dental Health Activities – (SPANISH & ENGLISH) Puppet pattern, songbook, and puzzles presented by the "SMILES" dental health program of San Diego County. Source has information on brushing, flossing, and more.
http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/smiles/fun.asp

Dentist Wordsearch Puzzle - A printable word search puzzle on the topics of the dentist and dental health.
http://www.thepotters.com/puzzles/dentists.html

Healthy Teeth - An oral health education database featuring simple activities and experiments as well as easy to understand text for grades 3 to 6.
http://www.healthyteeth.org/index.html

The Importance of Brushing Your Teeth - An educator's lesson to demonstrate the correct way to brush and floss teeth.
http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Health/Body_Systems_and_Senses/BSS0006.html

Stay Away Tooth Decay - Teaches second and third graders about the importance of keeping their teeth clean.
http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Health/Body_Systems_and_Senses/BSS0205.html

Teacher Vision™ Healthy Teeth - Dental health is demonstrated using a simple experiment which allows youngsters to understand why their teeth can become stained.
http://www.teachervision.fen.com/teeth/lesson-plan/2552.html?for_printing=1

Tooth Anatomy Printout - Short paragraph and a labeled tooth drawing to print out and use with young students. Includes glossary of tooth related vocabulary
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/anatomy/teeth/toothprintout.shtml

Tooth Tally Project - First grade classes may participate in Wilburn Elementary Tooth Tally Project by counting, collecting data, sorting, and graphing the number of baby teeth lost by the children.
http://barwellroades.wcpss.net/toothtally/07tooth.html

What Causes Tooth Decay? - Helps elementary school students understand the causes and implications of tooth decay.
http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Health/Body_Systems_and_Senses/BSS0007.html

Sources:
http://www.ada.org/prof/events/featured/ncdhm.asp
http://www.aap.org/oralhealth/ncdhm.cfm

MC Ortega is the former publicist for the late Walter Payton and Coca-Cola. Ortega is a senior communications and messaging executive specializing in media relations, social media, program development and crisis communications. Also, Ortega is an avid traveler and international shopper. Ortega resides with her partner, Craig, dog, Fionne and extensive shoe collection. Ortega also enjoys jewelry design/production and flamenco dancing.

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