Did You Know This Month Is National Children's Dental Health Month?
The month of February is representative of much more than warmly written Valentine's Day cards and President's weekend -- February is also National Children's Dental Health Month (NCDHM), and elementary school teachers across the nation are including dental health and oral hygiene into their curriculum this month.
The ADA (American Dental Association) is the proud sponsor of National Children's Dental Health Month. Each year it is commemorated by pediatric and general dentists as they focus their attention on improving the oral health of the children in their communities.
According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, over 50 percent of children have tooth decay before the age of five, and of the four million children born each year, more than half will have cavities by the time they reach the second grade. Unfortunately, proper treatment of tooth decay is time consuming as well as costly. According to the May 2000 Surgeon General's Report, Oral Health in America, more than 51 million school hours are lost each year to dental-related conditions.
In an effort to stop this trend in tooth decay among our children, pediatric dentists encourage parents to take their children's oral hygiene seriously. Many dentists also recommend that parents bring their children for their first dental visit by age one, then maintain consistency with regular cleanings and exams thereafter. This bit of advice is not meant to extend a long list of things to do by adding hours of time at the dentist; but instead it is to prevent spending more time there in the future. Parents can lower their time and financial costs associated with dental decay and other dental issues by bringing their children in for routine oral check-ups. As the saying goes, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." A little time this month learning about proper dental hygiene for our children can go a long ways in helping them in the future.
So, Happy February!! In a month of conversation hearts and George Washington's cherry pie, don't forget to brush your teeth after those treats, and also -- don't forget to see your dentist regularly. When it comes to healthy smiles, there is a lot to celebrate.
The ADA (American Dental Association) is the proud sponsor of National Children's Dental Health Month. Each year it is commemorated by pediatric and general dentists as they focus their attention on improving the oral health of the children in their communities.
According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, over 50 percent of children have tooth decay before the age of five, and of the four million children born each year, more than half will have cavities by the time they reach the second grade. Unfortunately, proper treatment of tooth decay is time consuming as well as costly. According to the May 2000 Surgeon General's Report, Oral Health in America, more than 51 million school hours are lost each year to dental-related conditions.
In an effort to stop this trend in tooth decay among our children, pediatric dentists encourage parents to take their children's oral hygiene seriously. Many dentists also recommend that parents bring their children for their first dental visit by age one, then maintain consistency with regular cleanings and exams thereafter. This bit of advice is not meant to extend a long list of things to do by adding hours of time at the dentist; but instead it is to prevent spending more time there in the future. Parents can lower their time and financial costs associated with dental decay and other dental issues by bringing their children in for routine oral check-ups. As the saying goes, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." A little time this month learning about proper dental hygiene for our children can go a long ways in helping them in the future.
So, Happy February!! In a month of conversation hearts and George Washington's cherry pie, don't forget to brush your teeth after those treats, and also -- don't forget to see your dentist regularly. When it comes to healthy smiles, there is a lot to celebrate.
Source...