Southbury Dental Group Offers Tips for National Children’s Dental Health Month

As the American Dental Association celebrates National Children’s Dental Health Month in February, Southern Connecticut Dental Group of Southbury is offering Connecticut  residents tips on how to help children cultivate a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.

“Pediatric dentistry is incredibly important since habits children learn are most likely carried on for the rest of their lives,” said Dr. Robert Lerman, D.M.D., Southern Connecticut Dental Group. “That is why we see the importance of educating parents so that they can be informed and help their children form the best possible dental habits.  A healthy smile is important, and with proper care, a balanced diet and regular dental visits, your child’s teeth can be healthy and strong.”

• A toddler should never be left in the crib or for an extended period of time with any liquid other than water.  Milk or juice can cause bacteria and decay; baby bottle tooth decay, or early childhood caries.
• Run a clean damp washcloth after you feed your baby to prevent bacteria growth.
• Take your child to a pediatric dentist by the child’s first birthday or when the first teeth arrive, whichever comes first.
• As soon as your child’s first teeth appear, brush teeth with a little bit of water. After children have reached the age of 2, start introducing fluoride toothpaste in pea-sized amounts.
• Take care of your own oral health. Research shows that the bacteria that cause decay can be passed from caregivers to infants and young children. Rinsing with anti-bacterial mouthwashes has been shown to significantly reduce the number of cavity-causing bacteria.