According to the recently released Canadian Health Measures Survey, an estimated 2.26 million school-days are lost annually due to dental visits or dental sick-days.
September is a good time to reinforce good dental habits.
"Dental disease is largely preventable, yet many children still suffer unnecessarily from tooth decay and other oral health concerns," notes British Columbia Dental Association president Dr. Bruce Ward. "Back-to-school is an ideal time for parents to reinforce some of the key preventative strategies to good dental health including daily brushing and flossing, making healthy food and drink choices and visiting the dentist for an examination."
The BCDA offers the following tips to help parents set their children up for good dental health for life:
- Brush more not harder. A perfect way to start and finish the day, children should brush their teeth in the morning and at bedtime with a soft brush and fluoride toothpaste. This is a simple preventative measure that should be reinforced early on as part of a daily health routine.
- Pack tooth-friendly foods for lunch and snacks: Cheese, nuts, carrot and celery sticks, fresh fruit or plain yogurt provide a healthy choice for a child's lunch box. Avoid soft or sticky foods that can cling to teeth and limit snacking throughout the day. C
- Think about what they drink. Aside from sugar, pop and other carbonated beverages contain acids that can eat away tooth enamel. Even "diet" drinks which don't contain sugar are acidic and can be harmful to teeth. Milk and juice are better options during meal times; however, water is the always the best option, especially for drinking throughout the day.
- Lead by example. Good dental health begins at home. Parents can demonstrate the value of good dental health by practicing their own healthy habits.
Start Early - Good dental care starts early. In fact, the best time for the first dental visit is recommended between six months and one year of age, or within six months of when you see the first tooth. The BCDA has an educational video offering advice to parents of young children, "How to Take Care of Your Child's Teeth." View it online at www.bcdental.org. Visit your dentist - A regular visit to the dentist will help to create familiarity and comfort for children. Dental disease is a progressive disease that cannot be reversed. Early diagnosis through a regular dentist exam can minimize disease progression and work to reduce the impact and cost of treatment.
Source:The Province
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