Dental Health

February is National Children's Dental Health Month

Dental caries, the most common Chronic Childhood disease in the United States, begins early in an infant or child’s life.

Now more than ever, kids are faced with a selection of food choices - from fresh fruits and vegetables to sugar-loaded processed convenience meals and snack foods. What children eat and when they eat it may affect not only their general health but also their oral health!  

Everyday activities may contribute to the tendency toward tooth decay. These include "grazing" regularly on foods with minimal nutritional value and sipping of sugary drinks.

To reduce your children's risk of tooth decay:

• Don't put your baby to bed with a bottle.

• Using a soft cloth, wipe your baby's teeth after feeding.

• Don't allow your baby to walk around with a bottle or sippy cup.

• Do not clean a dropped pacifier with your mouth, or share your fork or spoon with your baby. This passes decay-causing germs from your mouth to baby's mouth.

• Sugary foods and drinks should be consumed with meals. Saliva production increases during meals and helps neutralize acid production and rinse food particles from the mouth.

• Limit between-meals snacks.

• If your kids chew gum, make it sugarless. Chewing sugarless gum after eating can increase salvia flow and reduce plaque acids.

• Supervise beverage selection - when offering drinks suggest water and low-fat milk.

• Teach good brushing and flossing habits. Brush and floss your own teeth every day.

• Schedule regular dental visits.

Lesson Plans for Children

• Preschool through Grade 1

• Grades 2-3

• Grades 4-6

• Grades 7-8

Websites concerning Dental Health

• Alfy’s Picks for Dental Health
  Links to dental care sites and “teeth stories” for primary students

• American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
  The site for the best-known dental association specifically dedicated to children

• American Dental Association (ADA)

• Butler Oral Health
  A good list of frequently asked questions related to dental care. Butler Oral Care also has a great page of kids games on their "Kids Stuff" page.

• Crest
  A great site from one of America's most trusted names in tooth-care.
  

• Dental Health for Teachers & Students
  This is a current 14 page list of web sites for teachers and students that also includes suggested lesion plans and classroom activities. 

• Make your own Toothpaste and Tooth Powder
  An article from “the OraMedia Newsletter for Dental Self-Sufficiency” on using common ingredients such as baking soda, glycerin, and flavoring to make your own tooth powder and toothpaste. A good project for class.
  

• Montana State Oral Health Website

• No Cavities Clubhouse
  Fun games and activities for kids 4-6 and 7-9.