Good Oral Health Habits Start Early February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. Attitudes and habits established at an early age are critical in maintaining good oral health throughout life. Realization of the importance of early oral health has grown along with the American Dental Association’s event. Beginning in 1941 with a one-day event in Cleveland and a weeklong event in Akron, the ADA created the national observance day in 1949. It grew to a month long awareness campaign in 1981.
formula, breast milk or water in a baby’s bottle. Juice or sweet drinks are not healthy for your baby and can cause sickness and tooth decay. Water Your Pacifiers: Never dip a pacifier in honey, sugar or anything sweet because this coats the mouth and teeth with sugar. Never clean off a pacifier by putting it in your own mouth.
My Gums are Tender: Your baby might drool, be more cranky than normal, and have sore, swollen gums while teeth break through gums. Use a clean, cold teething Head Start uses the I Am ring, cold spoon or clean finger to Moving I Am Learning curriculum rub baby’s gums. enhancement to teach healthy Sugar Free Lullaby: Do not put habits. Their mascot “Choosy” your baby to sleep with a bottle or provides the following tips for early sippy cup of milk or juice because oral health: this can cause cavities. Singing lullabies helps your child go to sleep Choosy Babies and does not cause cavities! Babies Need Healthy Mouths: Baby Teeth Are Important: As Even before you see the first tooth, soon as baby teeth appear, cavities wipe your baby’s gums after feeding can start. Use an infant toothbrush and before bedtime using a clean, and water to clean baby’s first teeth. damp wash cloth wrapped around your finger. Choosy Toddlers What’s In That Bottle?: Put only
bottles before laying down for bed, otherwise your child’s drink may irritate or damage teeth while sleeping. Never put your child to bed with a propped up bottle. Try a Cup When Year One is Up: Try to have your child start drinking from a cup around 12 to 14 months.
Safe Sippy Cups: For mouth safety, make sure your child is Toddler Toothpaste: By 2 years sitting down, not walking or running old, start using a tiny dot of fluoride while drinking from a sippy cup. toothpaste (smaller than a pea) when Don’t Lose Baby Teeth to you brush your toddler’s teeth. Cavities: It’s important to keep Spit Don’t Rinse: Have your toddler spit out the toothpaste after brushing, but don’t rinse with water. The toothpaste that stays in your toddler’s mouth will coat teeth with fluoride that strengthens and protects them.
baby teeth cavity free because they help your child speak, chew and keep the space open for the next set of teeth.
Cup or Sippy Cup? A sippy cup is not a bottle and it’s not a pacifier. Unless it’s being used at meal time Bottle Free Naps and Bedtime: with milk, fill a sippy cup ONLY Finish bedtime and naptime with water.
For more tips and activities to teach good habits, visit www.ada.org/NCDHM2021.
