It’s National Children’s Dental Health Month!

Seventy-five years ago, President Harry S. Truman declared February 6 National Children’s Dental Health Day, but with all due respect, President Truman was rather late to the party. In the 1940s, dentists in Cleveland, Ohio declared the first Children’s Dental Health Day to inform the public of ways to protect and preserve teeth in children. The American Dental Association sponsored a national day of education starting in 1949 and later expanded these educational efforts to a full month.

Why spend a whole month talking to a group of people whose teeth aren’t even permanent? Comprehensive Dental Specialists understand why! As an adult, you know that maintaining your dental health depends on good habits: regular brushing, flossing, and check-ups. Because you’ve been maintaining these routines for so long, you might forget that the formation of these habits can be traced right back to National Children’s Dental Health Month.

Good dental health habits need to start early! Even today, three-quarters of a century after President Truman’s declaration, cavities represent one of the most common childhood diseases, tooth decay, that can be prevented.

Over half of all children ages 6-8 have had at least one cavity in a primary or baby tooth. More than half of all adolescents, 12-19 years, have had a cavity in a permanent tooth. In addition to preserving their teeth and their smile, proper childhood dental health is important for overall healthy development. Untreated dental issues can lead to challenges while eating and speaking, which can create developmental obstacles for young children.

Good dental health depends on developing regular habits and intervening early when disease is detected. Dr. Jabri, a board certified Pediatric Dentist, is always willing to talk to your child about how the foods they choose, particularly sugars, can impact their tooth health. Dr. Jabri and our hygienists will also encourage regular and routine brushings to keep teeth and gums tidy and to get children accustomed to regular dental health maintenance. Regular dentist check-ups should also become part of your dental health routine. In addition to detecting and correcting tooth decay, we have a range of treatments such as fluoride coatings and dental sealants that can significantly reduce the chance of disease over time.

Dr. Jabri and Dr. Aljabi recommend you begin proper dental habits with your children early. Even before teeth come in, a baby’s gums can hold sugars and bacteria that cause cavities. Wiping the gums twice a day with a soft, clean cloth, after their first feeding and before bed, can keep gums healthy and get your baby accustomed to regular cleanings. Brushing should begin with a soft brush and water when teeth appear, and a dental checkup should be scheduled around your baby’s first birthday.

As your child grows, they should be brushing their teeth twice daily, using a fluoride toothpaste. Ensure they aren’t using too much or too little paste and that their brushing sufficiently. Children who drink fluoridated drinking water experience fewer cavities than children who do not. Fluoride protects everyone’s dental health, reducing tooth decay by about 24%. Decades of research and thousands of studies have proven its safety, so Illinois fluoridates our water with safe, therapeutic levels of this natural mineral. Dr. Jabri may recommend an additional fluoride treatment, which can reduce cavities by 33%. Ask about dental sealants, a coating applied to the teeth that reduces cavities by up to 80% if you have concerns about cavities in your child.

Do you have questions about your child’s dental health? Just give us a call at 815-744-1774 to schedule an appointment. Dr. Jabri, Dr. Aljabi and all of our professional staff are always ready to help!