February 2020 PSA: Children's Dental Health

February is National Children's Dental Health Month

Even though tooth decay has been on the decline for the past 30 years, it is still one of the most common chronic diseases for children from age 6 to 19. Protect your children’s teeth by following these tips:

• Have your children drink tap water that contains fluoride.

• Avoid sugary foods and drinks especially between meals.

• Make sure your children (over the age of 2) brush their teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.

• For children younger than 6, watch them brush their teeth. Make sure they only use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and always spit it out rather than swallowing it. Help your child brush until s/he has good brushing skills.

• The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that your child visit a dentist for an initial check-up by the time they are 1 year of age.

Here are some helpful resources

• CDC
• Mouth Healthy
• Healthy Children
• National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center