February is Children's Dental Health Month

This is the perfect month for me to inform everyone about the importance of their oral health to their overall health. February is Children's Dental Health month but its a great time for all of us to make sure that we are on track with our oral health care. I will be making several appearance this month to discuss the importance of oral health to our school aged children.

Did you know that the number one childhood disease is tooth caries (AKA cavities)? Did you also know that it is preventable? Yes that's right a cavity is not a right of passage, it is something that never has to happen if proper preventable treatment is implemented. A good start is making sure that a child's first visit to a dentist should happen when they are 1years old. The old philosophy used to be that we should wait until they are 3 but studies have shown that this may be too late. Some children's teeth have already started to decay by the time the child is 3. So moms and dads out there get your children to the dentist early, but its never too late.

Another important fact to remember is that sugar that is in contact with the bacteria in our mouths for a long period of time will lead to decay. If you are going to have a food or beverage that is high in sugar it is best to eat or drink it over a very short period of time, rather then savor it throughout the day. Have the juice, or soda, or cake at one sitting. The longer the sugar is in contact with our teeth the odds of creating a carious leison increases exponentially.

One of my favorite preventative measures that I like to suggest is to chew gum. Not just any gum though it must contain the ingredient Xylitol, and to be truly affective Xylitol should be the first ingredient. Studies have shown that Xylitol kills the bacteria Strep Mutan which is linked to tooth decay. Chewing gum also increases salivary flow another way the body naturally cleans the teeth.

Your dentist should be able to recommend several preventive measures that you can do to prevent cavities for yourself and your children. Be sure to visit him or her every six months. Happy brushing and flossing everyone.