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Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums. February is National Children’s Dental Health Month and Dr. Heidi Weinroth, General Pediatrician at Cooper University Health Care recommends that the first dental visit take place by the time a child is 3 years old. During the first dental exam, your dentist will check all your child’s existing teeth for decay, examine your child’s bite and look for any potential problems with gums, jaw and oral tissues. To ease a child into visiting a dentist, it may be helpful to bring them to a sibling or parent dental visit to see first-hand what takes place or read them a book about going to the dentist for the first time. Some helpful dental tips to follow to ensure a child’s teeth stay healthy are:
- Avoid feeding breast milk or formula through the night after 6 months of age
- Finger brush early with water
- Clean out molars of all food particles
- Avoid sticky foods that increase food decay
- Avoid all juices including 100% fruit juice and soda
- Use very small amounts of fluoridated toothpaste before 5 years old
- Instill twice daily brushing as a non-negotiable activity. It’s worth the fight to ensure your child’s teeth stay clean and avoid decay.
A toothbrush and routine brushing builds a healthy and happy lifelong smile!
FREE Child Dental Care Check Ups on February 7
The Dental Hygiene Clinic at Rowan College of Burlington County (RCBC) in partnership with Cooper Medical School at Rowan University (CMSRU) will provide free dental care to children 12 and under during the clinic’s annual Give Kids a Smile Day on Friday, February 7. Services will include screenings, fillings, extraction and restorative treatments, fluoride treatments and sealants, orthodontic evaluation and x-rays. To make an appointment for your child, please call 856-291-4215.
At Cooper, we believe in family-centered health care, an approach to the planning, delivery and evaluation of care that is grounded in a mutually beneficial partnership among the family, patient and doctor. We listen to and honor your family’s perspectives and choices. Visit Cooper’s General Pediatrics page to learn more about our team and services.
I think it’s a great idea to avoid those sticky foods that will speed up tooth decay over time. My brother is trying to get some habits established in his family so that they don’t have any tooth issues in the future. I’ll be sure to share your article with him soon so that he can get a better idea of how to go about teaching his kids.