February is National Children’s Dental Health Month
April 22, 2021
February is National Children’s Dental Health Month! This month is meant to raise awareness about the importance of children’s oral health. It is imperative to instill good brushing and flossing habits from an early age. However, despite the fact that it is almost completely preventable, tooth decay is one of the most chronic diseases affecting children. And, what’s more, reports show that American students miss 51 million hours of school every year because of oral health issues. But, this month, and every month forward we can all start making a difference. Here are some tips to get kids excited about taking care of their teeth.
A Star Chart
While this may seem old-fashioned, nothing shows accomplishment more than actually physically seeing it displayed. Making a star chart is a fun family craft to get everyone involved. Plus, it lets your youngster know that you all value good oral health. Make it exciting by creating accomplishment goals. Consider offering a prize once your child meets the objectives.
Play a song
Why not add a bit of toe-tapping fun to what may seem like a boring task? Have your child brush for the entire length of a song. You both can choose a favorite tune. Make sure it is around 2-3 minutes long.
Learning through Entertaining
Check out a few fun books from the library that feature characters taking care of their teeth. Or download fun videos where your children’s favorite characters are promoting brushing. Consider purchasing toothbrushes and accessories with these beloved characters to reinforce the concept. PS… this could be one of the aforementioned star-chart prizes!
Promote Tooth-Friendly Snacks
Children learn by example. If they see you eating healthy, they will eat healthy too. Encourage the habits by letting them know, not only will their bodies grow up to be big, strong, and healthy, but so will their teeth!
Regular Dental Visits
Regular dental visits should be a part of growing up, just as any other routine. As stated before, oral health is directly related to overall health. From the time your child’s first teeth erupt you need to keep them clean. Tooth decay is preventable. Your child may visit the dentist as early as one year old. That way, she or he gets comfortable with the process from an early age.
ProSmile Dentistry believes in the importance of reaching out to our community. We understand that if we all work together, we can make a change. If you have any questions regarding your child’s oral health contact our office today.
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We understand that we are in the midst of a concerning, confusing time. Our office wants to ensure that our patients and staff stay healthy. Starting tomorrow we will be cancelling all appointments through the end of March. Those of you with appointments in the next two weeks our team will be reaching out to reschedule to a later date. We will be available daily at the office for EMERGENCIES ONLY from 9:00 AM- 2:00 PM. We have the following procedures in place: We continue to disinfect our treatment rooms in between each patient. This includes disinfecting the exam chair, work surfaces, light handles, and instruments. We continue to use rubber dams for most patient procedures, vacuums and suction, use of eye wear and masks for the staff; all of which reduce potential spread and infection of any illness within our office. We are increasing the frequency in which we are disinfecting the patient lounge, pens, clipboards, and beverage station. We are screening patients to determine risk for ANY seasonal infections, but also for COVID-19. We thank you in advance for understanding if we ask you to reschedule your appointment. We are temporarily a “no handshake” environment for the safety of our patients. Dr. Maricarmen says feel free to “elbow bump” her! We have moved our air purifier to the waiting room as a preventative measure. We ask that our team members and patients follow these procedures: Please wash your hands prior to entry of our office and use hand sanitizer upon your arrival. If you are sick, exhibiting any symptoms of a virus, have been exposed to a COVID-19 patient, or have traveled outside of the country, please call us to reschedule your appointment. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and dispose of it immediately. Avoid touching your face and mouth. We appreciate your cooperation at this time and thank you for your understanding. Our staff will keep you updated to any changes.
Summer time is officially here! This means having fun in the sun with your friends and families at parties, barbecues, at the beach, and more! While it’s certainly a time to celebrate and have a great time since school and other obligations are put on hold, there’s one thing that we want to protect and that’s your smile. Your Syracuse dentist will discuss how to keep up with your dental and oral hygiene and care this summer. Find a Healthy Diet and Stick With It! We understand that it can be easy to fall into a bad diet during the summer. With all of the barbecues and backyard parties full of snacks, sweets and treats, it’ll certainly be difficult to ignore it. While it’s fun to splurge, make sure that you’re still eating right for a majority of your meals. This means limiting the amount of snacking that you’re doing—if you can’t help but snack, try to replace the chips and candies with celery, carrots, or other healthy vegetables! It also highly recommended not to eat very late at night, especially if you plan on going to bed relatively soon. You’re allowing the bacteria and food particles to linger in your mouth overnight instead of giving your body time to properly digest. If you eat and then go to bed, you’re also skipping your nightly brushing routine, making it easier for your teeth to suffer from cavities and potential decay. Eat at appropriate times and don’t forget to brush and floss your teeth before you go to bed to protect your smile! Drink Water—Lots of It It’s no secret that summertime can bring some of the hottest recorded temperatures around, which is why it’s important to stay hydrated. This won’t only help your dental health, but it’ll help your overall health, too! In between meals, try to consume as much water as possible, since there are many popular drinks that can cause you to dehydrate or dry out your mouth (coffee, sodas, sports drinks, alcohol). Protect Your Teeth as You Play Sports Summer is a great time to participate in a number of sports activities, like baseball, soccer, football, and more! But accidents can happen and your teeth can easily suffer from a hit. Most dental injuries in children are sports related, so we recommend using mouth guards for these times. There is no intention of anyone getting hurt, but that doesn’t mean it can’t potentially happen! Your teeth will thank you in the morning. If you want to learn some more helpful summer tips about protecting your smile, or if you’d like to make an appointment for your bi-annual check-up, don’t hesitate to call ProSmile Dentistry at (315)475-4559 today! We wish you a happy, safe and healthy summer!