February is National Children’s Dental Health Month

 

February often comes with handmade valentines, chocolate, candy, and flowers, but did you know it should also come with a dental checkup? February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. That means it's the perfect time to bring your kids in for their annual dental cleaning and checkup to make sure their smile is healthy and happy! Your San Diego orthodontist is dedicated to helping children throughout the community have beautiful and healthy smiles.

 

Schedule Their Next Visit

 

No matter how good of a job your child does taking care of their teeth, no smile is complete without a professional dental cleaning. Brushing and flossing daily is essential, but it's not enough to completely combat plaque and tartar. Brushing twice per day and flossing at night prevents the buildup of plaque, but it can’t remove tartar. Tartar is created on the surface of your teeth when plaque hardens. If not removed, tartar causes cavities and bacterial infections. Your child needs to visit their pediatric dentist every six months to have this tartar scaled off of their teeth so that their smile remains healthy.

 

Get Them New Dental Tools

 

An easy way to encourage a healthy smile is to get your child some new tools to care for their smile! A new toothbrush or toothpaste is an excellent motivator when it comes to dental hygiene. A toothbrush should be replaced every 3 to 4 months to remain effective. Children’s toothbrushes come in a variety of colors and even have characters from their favorite shows! Bring your child to the store to help them choose a toothbrush they're excited about using! This motivates them to brush for the appropriate amount of time and frequency.

 

Bond Through Dental Care Activities

 

One way to improve your child’s smile is to make their dental care routine more fun! There are several ways to help your child enjoy the process of caring for their teeth. Some ideas include playing music, a rewards calendar with small prizes, or making tooth brushing time a bonding activity. One of the best ways to model a good brushing technique is to brush your teeth with them. Ask our orthodontist in San Diego about any recommendations for making your child’s dental hygiene routine more fun!

 

Show Them the Plaque

 

One way to teach your child about the dangers of plaque is a plaque-disclosing tablet. This is a simple and safe way to highlight the plaque on your child’s teeth. This tablet helps your child see where they're missing when they brush and floss.

 

Give Dr. Lee a call at one of our San Diego offices to schedule your child's orthodontic appointment and get their smile on the right track for the rest of the year, and their lifetime!