February is National Children’s Dental Health Month!

February 1, 2019.

When you think February, what comes to mind? Heart shaped cards? Boxes of Chocolates? Presidents? Red Dragons? Well, yes, all of that. However, the first thing that comes to the mind of a pediatric dental specialist is (wait for it…): NATIONAL CHILDREN’S DENTAL HEALTH MONTH!

National Children's Dental Health Month

At the Pediatric Dental Center, we view ourselves as the oral specialists of pediatric medicine. Your child’s oral health is our primary concern. That is why at every appointment we discuss oral hygiene instructions and tips, nutritional guidelines, and healthy habits that should last a lifetime.

For example, brushing at least twice a day is so important but, on the weekends, we especially want you to brush after those sugar and dye-filled birthday and Valentine’s parties. Celebrating Chinese New Year? It’s a good idea to floss out those chicken feet and fortune cookies from in between your teeth (yes, chicken feet: quite tasty and can be found at your local Whole Foods).  Going to a President’s Day Party? Don’t forget to discuss President George Washington’s teeth with your kids and stress that if he brushed and flossed starting from his first set of teeth, he probably wouldn’t have had all those problems historians like to write about.

We encourage all parents and caretakers to be good role models for your children. Let your kids see you flossing before you brush at night. Keep some floss in the car and perhaps do a quick floss before leaving the Century City mall parking lot. Show your kids that rinsing with water after a meal and spitting (preferably in the bathroom of the restaurant and not in the parking lot… people may judge) is a good habit when a toothbrush isn’t handy. Also, don’t reach for the Fruit Punch Gatorade after a long bike ride with the family; water is just fine (same goes for an apple martini: the food dye is just gross).

We want to remind you that the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children be seen by their 1st tooth or their 1st birthday.  Call or email us to make an appointment. The goal is prevention: prevention of tooth and gum disease. Teaching your children good oral habits from an early age will last a lifetime!

Happy February and we hope you stay warm and dry!

Xoxo,
Team Pediatric Dental Center (PDC)