SEALED with a smile:)

Happy “Tooth-Day”!

Farah Flossit here,…Wishing you well on this rainy day:)

I am thrilled to report some great news!

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention have reported that cavities in young children are on the decline. Most people are surprised when I mention that tooth decay is one of the most common chronic diseases among children in the United States. However, with this recent report, we have many reasons to be optimistic. The report also stressed that tooth decay is almost 100% PREVENTABLE. Practicing proper oral care & establishing a dental home for children by age one, parents & care givers can significantly increase a child’s chance for healthy teeth & optimal overall health. All of this GOOD NEWS really gets me excited to do my job as Mouth Monster Fighting Super Agent! I’m here to inform you & help you get on the path to good oral health & prevention. With Farah Flossit on the case, I can guide you in the funnest way possible:)

Dental services are often underutilized & many children live with untreated tooth decay until it must be addressed due to pain or infection. To that end, one of the most overlooked & readily available preventative services that you should take advantage of are SEALANTS. Sealants offer a layer of protection that can save your child from needing expensive & unpleasant fillings. Sealants are probably the most cost-effective services your child can receive. Not only do sealants cost less than half of the price of a filling, they are often covered by insurance. This news is all the more reason to take advantage of an easy way to keep your child’s smile cavity-free.

So when should you have sealants done? Well, if you take your child to visit the dentist http://www.casasmiles.com/pediatric-dentistry/ every 6 months for routine exam & cleaning, the doctor will definitely let you know when your child is ready. Sealants are most commonly applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. Typically, the first permanent molars erupt & are ready to be sealed around age 6 & the second permanent molars erupt & are ready to be sealed around age 12. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) http://www.aapd.org/, most children’s cavities happen in places that sealants could have protected. In fact, sealants have been show to reduce cavities by 86% after 1 year & 58% after 4 years.

What can you & your child expect? Having sealants applied is a quick & painless process–no drilling required! After the dentist dries & preps the tooth, she simply paints on the sealant in liquid form & allows it to harden for about a minute. Once the sealants are set, encourage your child to avoid chomping on ice or chewing especially hard or sticky foods that could dislodge the sealant. Sealants are pretty durable, though, & can last for up to 10 years. Teeth are most vulnerable to decay when they first come in, says the AAPD, so the sooner a tooth is sealed the better protected it will be.

While sealants are an excellent tool for cavity prevention, they don’t replace the need for a healthy diet & proper oral hygiene. So, to help moms & dads make good oral health interesting & fun, below I have provided a few new cool finds that will keep brushing & flossing fun!

Kids’ Activities Printable activity sheets with fun Disney characters for children of all ages.

English Disney – Make Brushing Amazing Activity Book (PDF)

http://www.dentalcare.com/media/en-US/dhm/2015/DHM2015-Kids-Activity-Book.pdf

Past Activity Sheets (PDF)

http://www.dentalcare.com/media/en-US/dhm/DHM2013-PastActivitySheets.pdf

Spanish

Disney – Cepillarse es algo Divertido – Libro de actividades (PDF)

http://www.dentalcare.com/media/en-US/dhm/2015/DHM2015-Kids-Activity-Book-SP.pdf

Hojas de actividades pasadas (PDF)

http://www.dentalcare.com/media/en-US/dhm/DHM2013-PastActivitySheets-Sp.pdf