By Dr. Konita Wilks, Healthy Smiles for Kids of Orange County
Monsters do more than lurk under beds and in half-opened closets, waiting to unleash their creepy-crawly frightfulness when the bedroom lights go out.
They also love to trick children into falling asleep without brushing and flossing their teeth, cause cavities in children’s mouths, tempt them with sugary snacks and convince them that it’s alright to play sports without protective gear. These goblins have caused one in four children under the age of 5 to have cavities already, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
But not for long. This February, Healthy Smiles for Kids of Orange County, one of the largest nonprofit dental health providers dedicated to improving the dental health of children, is supporting the American Dental Association (ADA) in sponsoring National Children's Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of dental health. And we’re recruiting parents to Defeat Monster Mouth© with us by banishing tooth decay in children.
It’s as easy as turning on the bedroom light! Here are five tips to defeat monster mouth and maintain good dental health:
- Brushing and Flossing. Children (and adults!) should brush teeth two or three times a day, for two minutes each time using a pea-size tab of toothpaste on a soft, dry brush. It is appropriate to use a smear of fluoride toothpaste for children 2 and under. Follow a thorough brushing with flossing for one minute. For young children, the use of flossers is sometimes easier. Parents should floss children’s teeth until they are able to floss well by themselves, usually around age 9.
- Nutrition. What children eat and when they consume it affects their overall health, including their dental health. Eating healthy foods — including fruits and vegetables, grains, dairy and lean proteins — help keep teeth healthy. If your children do eat sweets, ask them to drink a glass of water afterward if brushing isn’t convenient.
- Sealants. A dental sealant is a plastic coating barrier that protects teeth from developing cavities. Sealants are especially effective applied to the chewing surfaces of back teeth and can be used to cover deep pits and grooves in other teeth. But remember: Children still have to brush and floss even if they have dental sealants!
- Mouth guards. Active children playing sports can protect their teeth from being knocked out or broken by wearing a mouth guard. These dental devices cushion the blow of an impact that would otherwise cause damage.
- Dental visits. Schedule dental checkups twice a year with your dentist. A child’s first visit should be at age one or at the first sight of a tooth emerging.
By following these five simple steps, no monster stands a chance at helping tooth decay form.
About the blogger:
As the dental director of Healthy Smiles for Kids of Orange County, Konita Wilks, DDS, has a passion for serving children with special needs, an underserved population among the local community. A Huntington Beach resident, Dr. Wilks graduated with honors from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Dentistry and completed post-doctoral education at the UCLA School of Dentistry. Her research has focused on developing a standardized protocol for treating children with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities in a traditional dental clinic setting.
