The best way to achieve a lifelong healthy smile is to start early, and at West Gate Dental, we're proud to provide comprehensive pediatric dental care to our young patients. But patient education is just as important as the care we provide in our office, which makes February a significant month at our practice. Why? February is National Children's Dental Health Month, which is why we're sure to celebrate it every year!
A Month of Pediatric Dental Health
National Children's Dental Health Month is a great opportunity to educate yourself and your child on why childhood dental health is so important. Dental health during childhood sets the stage for dental health over a lifetime, so it's important to instill good oral hygiene habits to foster a healthy, beautiful smile.
Oral hygiene is the foundation of any healthy smile, which is why daily brushing and flossing are so important, even for kids. You should start cleaning a baby's teeth as soon as they appear, beginning by using a damp washcloth. At 18 months, you can start using a small, grain of rice sized, smear of toothpaste on a soft-bristled children's toothbrush to clean the teeth, graduating to a pea-sized amount when your child turns three. As soon the teeth start to touch each other, you should start flossing your child's teeth once per day. You'll need to brush your child's teeth for them at first, and they may not be ready to brush on their own until they reach age 6 or so.
Finally, remember that regularly visiting your Lincoln, NE dentist is vital to your child's dental health. You should bring your child in for their first visit around their first birthday, and you'll need to maintain dental check-ups every 6 months afterwards. Through strong oral hygiene and regular dental visits, you can lay the foundation for a lifetime of healthy smiles!
Contact Your Lincoln Family Dentist
National Children's Dental Health Month is a great opportunity to educate yourself on how to provide the best possible care for your child's teeth, and if you have more questions, we're here to help. Contact us today to learn more about how to care for your child's teeth or to schedule your next appointment. We can't wait to hear from you, and we wish you a happy, tooth-friendly February!