Children’s Dental Health Month
Feb 01, 2019
According to the World Health Organization, oral diseases are the most common of the chronic diseases and are important public health problems becaquse of their prevalence, their impact on individuals and the expense of their treatment.
Did you know that oral health can influence everything from how you speak or taste food to how you sleep or socialize? Children can be especially impacted by untreated tooth decay, which can lead to pain and infection, as well as trouble eating, talking, sleeping and learning.
Here are some tips for how to reduce your children’s risk of tooth decay:
- Sugary foods and drinks should be limited. When they are consumed, it should be with meals. Saliva production increases during meals and helps neutralize acid production and rinse food particles from the mouth.
- Limit between-meal snacks. If kids crave a snack, offer them nutritious foods like fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy or whole-grains.
- If your kids chew gum, make it sugarless. Chewing sugarless gum after eating can increase saliva flow and help wash out food and decay-producing acid.
- Monitor beverage consumption. Children should make healthy beverage choices such water and low-fat milk.
- Help your children develop good brushing and flossing habits.
- Schedule regular dental visits.
