Healthy Dental Habits for a Brighter, Happier Smile

 Healthy dental hygiene habits give everyone a reason to smile 

National Dental Health Month in October raises awareness about the importance of oral health. 

But it's not just about taking care of your teeth. Oral wellbeing is associated with the strength of your entire body.

The mouth is full of bacteria and is connected to the digestive and respiratory tracts. Without proper oral hygiene, bacteria can cause infections in the mouth and lead to problems in other parts of the body. 

Poor oral health has been associated with: 

• Cardiovascular disease 
• Complications of pregnancy and birth  
• Pneumonia 
• Diabetes 
• Eating disorders 
• Rheumatoid arthritis 
• Autoimmune diseases 
• Alzheimer's disease 
• Poor performance in school 

• Poor social relationships. 

 It is  especially important to establish good oral hygiene habits in children because oral health is linked to lifelong health.  Such propensities can add to further developed language improvement, legitimate biting, and a sure grin, working on a kid's confidence and generally personal satisfaction.

To teach children  the importance of  oral health, you should establish habits and routines such as: 

• You don't have to wait until your child's teeth to start oral care. Gently wipe gums with a damp, soft cloth or silicone finger brush. 
• Give toddlers a soft toothbrush and fluoride-free toothpaste as soon as their first tooth emerges, and brush at least twice a day (after breakfast and before bedtime). Children over 3 years of age may spit out toothpaste, so you can add a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste  once they reach this milestone. 
• Brush your own teeth with your child to mimic good habits. 

The cavities that cause tooth decay are almost completely preventable. If left untreated, cavities can cause pain, difficulty eating, and can affect permanent teeth that haven't even erupted yet. 

What causes cavities? 

• Germs (bacteria) in the mouth produce acids as they break down food and drink, which then stick to the  enamel surface of the teeth. These bacteria can be transmitted from  person to person by kissing, sharing food and drink, sharing cutlery, and even breathing on food. Don't forget that your oral health can affect the health of your children. 
• A diet full of sugar, carbohydrates, and sticky foods that stick to  teeth and aren't easily washed away by saliva. 

•  Poor oral hygiene in the home. 

In addition to establishing healthy oral hygiene habits, you can improve your child's oral care  by scheduling a dentist appointment at 12 months of age or within 6 months of the first tooth emerging. 

Dentists can administer dental sealants and fluoride.  As per the American Dental Affiliation, the layer of insurance given via sealants can lessen a youngster's gamble of holes by 80%.. Sealants are recommended for permanent molars at ages 5 to 7 and 11 to 14. 

Fluoride treatments  strengthen  tooth enamel. They're especially important in places like Collier County, which voted in February  to stop adding fluoride to drinking water. 

Introducing healthy oral hygiene habits early can help reduce a child's fear of going to the dentist. The Healthcare Network also offers intravenous sedation in addition to existing nitrous oxide sedation to  support pediatric patients who require multiple treatments in one visit, have severe dental anxiety, and/or have  medical, physical, or emotional disabilities that limit their abilities. Give instructions and stay calm. Additionally, as part of the Healthcare Network's efforts to expand access to care, our Ronald McDonald Care Mobile visits at-risk schools in Collier County to provide dental exams and preventive care, including sealants and fluoride treatments, making dentistry accessible to children. 

Our state-of-the-art pediatric dental facility at Golden Gate at Nichols Community Health Center is available to all families, including patients with health and dental insurance. However, as with all of our services, no one will be denied care based on insurance or income status. In addition to serving Medicaid patients, we also offer a sliding fee scale that reduces costs for eligible patients.