Dr. Xenia Deans, a dentist at Cornerstone Family Healthcare, was a guest on WALL Radio Thursday, February 11, 2021 to discuss Children’s Dental Health Month.
A healthy mouth and teeth are an important part of a child’s overall wellness. Untreated cavities can cause pain and infections that may lead to problems with eating, speaking, playing, and learning. In fact, studies have shown that children with poor dental health perform worse in school than children who have good dental health. Children with poor dental health are less inclined to speak up in the classroom, socialize in the classroom and even smile.
WALL Radio Interview with Dr. Deans
Please click the link below to hear Dr. Deans’ entire interview or read on to learn more. Thank you to WALL Radio for having Cornerstone Family Healthcare as a guest. To schedule a dental appointment with a Cornerstone provider, call 845-563-8000.
Children’s Dental Health Tips
- Lead by example—Kids model what parents do, so it’s important that your kids see you brushing your teeth twice a day. If they don’t see you doing it, they won’t be inclined to do it themselves.
- Aim to brush twice per day (morning and night) and floss once per day for good health—Poor dental health increases the risk of a bacterial infection in the blood stream, which can affect valves in your heart.
- Drink more water—A 12 oz bottle of Coke has 39g of sugar (equivalent to almost 10 sugar packets!) Sugary soft drinks and juices trigger the bacteria in your mouth to produce acid and cause cavities
- Some chewing gums help prevent cavities—Some brands of gum (such as Trident) are sweetened with xylitol, a bacteria fighting ingredient that has been clinically proven to help prevent cavities.
- Early childhood cavities is often caused by milk—Try to avoid a bottle or sippy cup to your child when he or she is going to bed or taking a nap.
- Flossing is important—Wherever teeth touch needs to be cleaned! When you do not floss, you are missing over 40% of tooth surfaces.
- Schedule a dental checkup—Dental checkups should be every six months starting when a child gets their first tooth.
