Many parent do encourage their children to practice proper dental care habits at home.  But having the right dental health care products for your children to use is important as well.    

For children who do not brush their teeth on their own yet, you may want to avoid toothpaste with fluoride until they know not to swallow.  However for older children, the Center for Disease Control recommends that parents get their children toothpaste that contains fluoride in order to protect their teeth.  

Also with regards to using mouthwash parents may want to avoid using mouthwash that contain alcohol.  There are many kid friendly mouthwashes that do not contain alcohol just read the label to make sure.    Flossing is an important part of dental care, however your child needs to know how to floss correctly.  Make sure you or your dentist correctly shows your child how to floss.  A parent should floss their child teeth until they are able to do so on their own.

More then 130 million Americans do not have dental insurance.  Those that are lacking insurance tend to put of dental care due to cost. 

Even though early childhood is a critical time period for kids to learn effective dental health care habits, many parents can not afford their needed dental care.  

Many schools in effort to help children build strong dental health care habits, reach out to volunteer dental hygienists and dentist that are willing to visit their school and provide dental education and free dental screenings.  See if your child school is active in having such programs available.  

GKAS events adjust programs to balance safety, need to provide oral health to kids

Despite challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly 40,000 GKAS volunteers plan to deliver much needed oral health care and education to approximately 300,000 underserved children in the U.S. throughout 2021. With the support of the GKAS national sponsors, Colgate and Henry Schein, as well as other partner companies, the ADA’s GKAS program will provide treatment and education kits for local volunteers to use at their events. In addition, the ADA remains committed to providing resources to local GKAS program coordinators and volunteers who are considering or planning a GKAS event.

Having good dental care habits established early on could help avoid dental issues in the future.  Good oral health care is more the just having healthy teeth. According to the Surgeon General oral health is integral to general health care. However, sadly many parents may not realize proper dental care, like traditional medical care should begin in infancy to prevent the development of disease.   

The American Dental Association advise new parent to have the first dental visit before the child first birthday. Pediatric dentist are specialist in treating children dental care needs. The dentist has the same goal in mind for your child dental health care “Prevention” With maintenance, routine check-ups and cleanings on a regular basis it will help prevent larger dental care needs.

Dental care cost can be high even just preventive dental services without dental insurance can cost over $150.  Where as most dental insurance plans provide preventive dental care for free.   

Keep in mind you have an obligation to pay as agreed to the dentist any dental service provided. If you can not afford dental treatment do not agree to have any dental care until you are able.  Dental insurance helps in making dental care more affordable so you do not have to put of needed dental care services.

It is important to understand that your family dentist is not a mind reader.  You have an obligation to be truthful with your dentist.  What you do not reveal they can not know.  If you have additional information tell them and do not hold back on your opinions and or feeling this go for positive as well as negative.  Keep in mind most dentist want you to be happy.  If you do not let them know you are displeased about something how can they take measures to correct the issue.

When taking your child to see a dentist here are some tips that you should know.  Make sure that the dentist provide you complete information about any dental care services being advised.  Make that the dentist explains things to you in a language you can under stand.  (Note Many dentist have their own language “dental talk” that many people may not completely understand)      

Make sure the dentist is providing you with all available options. It is hard to make an informed choice unless you know all your available options.  Ask you dentist to understand why they are suggesting one option over another.    

Don’t forget you always have the right for a second opinion any time you want additional information from another source.  Do not be afraid to get a second opinion a good dentist will not get insulted.   Make sure you have a dentist that treats you and your child with respect at all times.  A dentist should not be rude because you are asking questions about your child dental care and or dental treatments. 

Respect also includes the privacy and security of your records and the privacy of your discussions with the dentist and staff members.   It should go without saying but the dental office that you choose to go to for you and your family dental care should be clean. Cleanliness and sterility is what you are looking for if you do not see that leave.  

It is important that children’s dental and oral health care needs are met.  Having healthy teeth and gums is also important to a child over all health care. In order to meet a child dental care goals it is important to have proper preventive dental care habits at home, as well as a dental care provider. 

Seeing a dentist regularly is just as important as seeing your doctor regularly.   Talk to your child dentist, go over some healthy dental care habits to have a maintain from home. 

CHIP or Children’s Health Insurance Program helps to provide free or low-cost health coverage for more than 7 million children up to age 19. CHIP provides coverages to U.S. citizens and eligible immigrants.   

CHIP is Available in Every State and in general children in families with incomes up to $44,100 year (for a family of four) are likely to be eligible for coverage. However, in many states, families can have higher incomes and their children can still qualify.     

Each state designs its own CHIP program, which includes eligibility, benefits, premiums and cost-sharing, and application and renewal procedures. States can decide on the benefits provided under CHIP, but all states cover routine check-ups, immunizations, hospital care, dental care, and lab and x-ray services.  Children get free preventive care, but low premiums and other cost-sharing may be required for other services.

There are many people that have worries about dental x-rays being taken on an annual basis. This worries are compounded if they had recent medical x-rays also taken.  

It may help to understand that a complete series of dental X-rays emits as much radiation as does an hour in the sun. Many dental offices now offer digital x-rays which produce 1/10 the radiation that the old style x-rays produced. 

However, if x-rays are not taken, the dentist can examine only about 50% of the tooth structure. It would be like asking the dentist to work with one hand tied behind their back. However, talk to your dentist about any X-rays worries you may have. If you have a history of good teeth they may be able to do X-rays less often.

A course it goes almost without saying that smoking or chewing tobacco is in no way good for your health.  However with regards to oral health, if you smoke or chew you have a high risk of gum disease and oral cancer.  Men are affected twice as often as women and 95 percent of oral cancers occur in those over 40 years of age. 

More then 8000 people die each year form oral an pharyngeal diseases. If you use tobacco it is very important to see a dentist frequently though out the year.  Your dentist can perform a thorough screening for oral cancel to help ensure your mouth remains healthy.

Men oral health care is just as important as women oral health care however, men are less likely then women to take care of their oral health needs.  Even though good oral health as been linked with longevity, the common factors associated with infrequent dental checkups is just being male.  Men are less likely then women to seek preventive dental care from a dentist and often neglect their oral health for years.  Only visiting a dentist when larger dental issues arises from neglect.  According to oral health statistics men will lose 5.4 teeth by the age of 72 and are more likely to develop oral and throat cancer as well as periodontal disease.

There is a new ingredient in toothpaste, developed by dentists, called Novamin. Novamin can reduce teeth sensitivity. Many times teeth become sensitive when gum tissue recedes, exposing a tooth’s roots. Roots contain small holes or tubules that lead directly to the tooth nerves. Novamin plugs up the holes cutting off contact with nerves and eliminating pain.   

It is made from a compound from elements naturally critical for bone and tooth mineralization: calcium, phosphorus, silica and sodium. In their common forms, these elements have very limited value in tooth healthy. But in their rare ionic form, they can make teeth stronger and help eliminate tooth sensitivity

People may think that dental exams are about X-rays and teeth cleanings. Maybe a filling here or there if they are unlucky.  However, dentist may be able to recognize and diagnose numerous other potential health problems.  According to Dawn West, DMD, RN with Tuffs University School of Dental Medicine, when you go for a dental checkup you might actually be saving more than just your teeth and oral health, because the mouth is the gateway to your entire organism and there might be several important signs of other diseases existent in there that a dentist may be able to see.

Significant link between smoking and gum disease. According to a new study done at Ohio State University, smoking causes the body to turn against its own helpful bacteria.  The study shows how cigarette smoke also wipes out good bacteria in the mouth making the tissue much more susceptible to attack from bad bacteria, which leaves smokers more vulnerable to gum disease, and tooth decay.

While many people many know the basic tips for staying healthy and feeling well is by having a balanced diet and exercise.  However did you know your oral health can play a big roll in your overall health?  By having good oral health care habits you can maintain not only good oral health but over all wellness.

Dental implants can be are useful in several ways in order to replace missing teeth.  A single implant can be used to replace a single tooth missing tooth.  Where as if you are missing several teeth, or even all of your teeth, dentures or dental bridges can be attached to dental implants. Compared to tooth-supported bridges and gum-supported dentures, using dental implants to support these restorations provides optimum stability, comfort and function.

There are many people that have some aspect of their smile that they would like to improve.  Cosmetic dentistry is a way to achieve a beautiful as well as healthy smile that you can feel confident about.  If you do not like to smile simply because of the way your teeth look consult a cosmetic dentist about the possible smile improvements that can be made.

 Prevention is key to good dental health in babies. To avoid early childhood caries while nursing, avoid at will breast feeding after the first primary teeth begin to erupt.  Babies should not fall to asleep with a bottle containing anything other then water.  Fruit juices or soda should not be provided in a baby bottle.  Offer these types of drinks in a cup and only with meals or snack time.

Believe it or not dental problems can begin early. One of the bigger concerns is Early Childhood Caries (BBTD or Nursing Carries) Once a child’s diet includes anything besides breast-milk, erupted teeth are at risk of tooth decay.  Early Childhood Caries can be preventable, with proper at home dental care habits for your child and regular dental visits.  The earlier the dental visit, the better the chance of preventing dental problems.