• By Deborah Massenburg
• Posted Monday, February 1, 2016

February is National Children's Dental Health Month

Forsyth County, NC - Children with their “little white choppers” fill the hallways of our schools each day so in recognition of National Children's Dental Health Month, help your child arrive to school ready to learn. It is not too late to schedule an appointment with your dentist. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, untreated tooth decay remains the number one chronic disease among children 5 -17 years of age. Tooth decay can be easily prevented by incorporating a few of the healthy habits below:

• Healthy diet: A healthy diet that limits sugar is one change that will make a huge impact in reducing your child's risk for tooth decay.
• Daily brushing and flossing: Make this a family routine. Brushing in the morning and before bedtime are important steps to reducing the germs in the mouth that are needed to create a cavity.
• Choose a fluoride toothpaste: When buying toothpaste, always choose a fluoride toothpaste with an ADA seal of approval. Fluoride strengthens enamel, the outer layer of the tooth and helps to defend the tooth from tooth decay.
• Regular dental visits: No healthy dental regimen is complete without including regular dental visits for exams, professional dental cleaning and addressing any restorative needs. Remember to ask your dentist about dental sealants, a plastic coating that protects the surface of teeth you cannot reach with your toothbrush or floss.

Children are unable to perform at their best when distracted by pain associated with tooth decay. Taking care of your child's teeth before problems occur is the best approach to having healthy teeth that may last a lifetime.

Please call (336)703-3204. Our community dental hygienists with the Preventive Dental Health Program are ready to help you gain access to available dental resources. Call Cleveland Avenue Dental Center at (336)703-3090 to schedule an appointment with a dentist. Medicaid, Health Choice, Ameritas Dental Insurance and cash payments are accepted. A sliding fee scale is available for all patients without insurance.