To help promote the American Dental Association's mission during National Children's Dental Health Month, we're going to help parents out by sharing a few pointers to keep in mind for 2016. Here are five ways to pay extra special attention to your child's oral health this year:
Pay Attention to What They Drink:
According to the ADA, the average teenage male consumes about 81 gallons of soft drinks every year. That is massive amounts of sugar! Encourage alternatives to sugary sodas and energy drinks and limit their consumption of these harmful beverages.
Encourage Them to Chew Sugarless Gum:
Chewing gum as long, as it's sugarless, is a good dental habit. It encourages saliva production, which helps reduce the damage acid does to your child's teeth. Keep some sticks of sugarless gum in stock and share them with your kids, especially after meals on the go when they aren't able to brush their teeth.
Keep a Regular Schedule of Dental Appointments:
It's important to regularly monitor your child's growth and development, oral health habits, and tooth decay. Consistently keeping regular dental appointments for your kid is so important for these reasons. Plus, allowing your child to form a trusting relationship their dentist sets them up for good oral health in their adult lives.
If Your Kid Plays Sports, See Your Dentist for a Mouthguard:
An article published in the Journal of the American Dental Association estimates that about $500 million is spent each year on replacing teeth knocked out or damaged while playing sports. If your child plays sports, they're simply at a much higher risk of facial trauma. The good news is that many dentists and companies are working together to create cool solutions to help prevent damage from an athletic injury. Ask your dentist what he or she recommends for your sports star.
Know the Risks of Mouth Piercings:
Those of you with older kids know all about their need for self-expression. A popular form of expression and youth rebellion for decades has been mouth piercings. Dentists far and wide will condemn this practice because of the potential damage the metal will do to teeth, the breeding ground it creates for bacteria, and the risk it poses affecting speech, swallowing, and chewing. If you are fortunate enough to catch your young one before they do this without permission, make sure they get an honest rundown of the risks.
Thanks for Reading!
Carry these tips with you throughout the year and implement them when applicable. We hope National Children's Dental Health Month serves as a reminder of the important role parents play in their child's oral health!