February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. The ADA (American Dental Association) and our Jupiter Orthodontics team are using this month as an opportunity to educate our patients, social media followers, parents and children on oral health. We want to promote good dental hygiene habits that support healthy smiles for a lifetime!
According to the CDC, 1 in every 5 children (20%) aged 5 to 11 years old have at least one untreated cavity! That’s about 5 children in every classroom who have untreated tooth decay.
We’re joining in on pediatric dental health awareness, because now is the time to prevent cavities! Here’s why:
The Importance of Oral Health with Tiny Teeth
Baby teeth may be small, but they play a critical role in preparing the mouth for a beautiful set of permanent teeth. They also impact major functions, like chewing, speaking, and sleeping quality. Baby teeth are in our mouths for about 8 to 10 years—a significant amount of time!
Good oral hygiene is as important as ever when the baby teeth are still present. Baby teeth can still develop cavities (tooth decay) and the gums can still develop gum disease! Developing strong oral hygiene habits early on can protect the gums and baby teeth, and support the permanent teeth for a lifetime.
How Jupiter Orthodontics is Celebrating
It’s an important month! We want all of our patients (children, teens and adults) to understand the importance of proper oral hygiene.
Throughout February, our team is giving away prizes to our pediatric patients who exhibit excellent dental hygiene!
When you bring your child in for his or her next appointment in February, we’ll gladly reward their commitment to oral hygiene.
How You Can Celebrate
The best way to bring awareness to pediatric dental health month is to help your child develop a strong oral hygiene routine.
- Help your child understand why it’s important to brush and floss their teeth every night.
- Explain the potential consequences of neglecting their dental hygiene.
- Lead by example. Brush and floss your teeth with your child.
- Encourage your child to love their smile and to do everything they can to protect their smile.
Still have questions about pediatric dental hygiene?
We’re here for you! Dr. King has decades of experience working with young patients and their parents to develop strong, healthy smiles. If you have any questions, or you’d like some more advice, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
Don’t forget to bring your child into our Jupiter Orthodontics office during the month of February for an oral hygiene reward. If your child isn’t a patient yet, that’s okay! We encourage you to request his or her complimentary orthodontic exam today.
(Though many other orthodontists will suggest it is necessary to begin treatment immediately, Dr. King takes a conservative approach toward children’s orthodontics. Once the young patient visits us for the first time, Dr. King will monitor the patient every six months until they are ready to begin treatment, at no charge with no deposit necessary!)