Dental Health Awareness

Did you know that dental caries (tooth decay) is THE most common chronic disease of childhood in the United States?  Poor dental health affects many aspects of child well-being, including nutrition, speech, self-esteem, and school attendance.

However, tooth decay is almost completely preventable through improved nutrition, regular teeth brushing, and regular visits to a dentist.

While most young children visit their pediatrician routinely for medical check-ups, they don’t often see a dentist in the first few years of life unless there is a problem.  At LRPC, our goal is to change this by providing oral health education and screening, offering fluoride varnish applications, and making referrals to a dental home by the age of 1.

Here are just a few things you can do to prevent tooth decay in your child:

1.       Keep pacifiers clean and out of any mouth other than your baby’s.

2.       Begin cleaning your child’s teeth as soon as they erupt.

3.       Delay giving your baby juice, preferably until they are 1.

4.       Only allow drinking juice from a cup—never from a bottle.

5.       Try to discontinue the bottle by the time they are 1.

6.       After they reach 1, brush twice daily.

Fluoride treatments play an important role in the prevention of tooth decay.  In addition to fluoridated drinking water and many other sources of fluoride, application of varnish significantly reduces the number of fillings in children.  Ask your provider at your next visit if your child qualifies for fluoride varnish.  It’s a quick, painless process done in the office by the provider.  Most insurances cover the treatment.  For those whose insurance doesn’t cover it, the cost is $25.