Good oral health for children

Good oral health in young children plays a critical role in a child’s overall wellbeing and education. Parents and caregivers are the first defense in helping prevent tooth decay in arizona’s babies, toddlers and preschoolers.

in conjunction with national children’s dental health month which is recognized in february to promote the benefits of good oral health, first Things first, arizona’s early childhood organization, reminds parents and caregivers that they are the first defense in helping prevent tooth decay in arizona’s youngest children. left untreated, tooth decay in young children’s primary teeth puts them at risk for future problems like damaged permanent teeth; increased vulnerability to infections in other parts of the body, such as the ears, sinuses and the brain; and, impaired speech development, and reduced self-esteem.

tooth decay is the most common chronic disease faced by young children and is also 100 percent preventable.

here are some ways parents and caregivers can help:

• Clean your child’s teeth: When your baby’s first teeth come in, brush them after each feeding, especially before bedtime. Use a soft toothbrush and a rice-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. When your child turns 3, you can use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste.

• Prevent baby bottle decay: Don’t put your baby to bed with a bottle at night or at nap time. The sugar in milk, formula, juices and soda can cause tooth decay. Beginning at 6 months, give your child water to drink to help keep their mouth clean and healthy.

• Serve healthy food and snacks: Sugary and sticky foods cause tooth decay, so give your child fruits, vegetables or cheese instead.

• Take your child to the dentist: By baby’s first tooth or first birthday, take them to the dentist to check that their mouth, gums and teeth are healthy.

for several years, the ftf yuma Regional Partnership council has funded first smiles to provide oral health screenings and the application of fluoride varnishes for children under age 5 through community-based sites like child care centers and preschools. last year, almost 2,500 children under age 5 in Yuma county received a screening to detect tooth decay. families may also bring their children to the first smiles office at the health department, 2200 W. 28th Street, Suite 102. To see a schedule of classes and events, please visit the first smiles website at extension.arizona.edu/yuma/ first-smiles. to obtain information by phone or arrange an event, please call the program office at (928) 726-3904.

statewide, ftf funds oral health screenings and application of fluoride varnish to prevent tooth decay and subsequent dental issues that are a leading cause of school absence later on. in addition, ftf funds strategies to connect families to health care options in their communities, as well as efforts to coordinate the services children receive for maximum benefit. in state fiscal Year 2019, almost 17,000 fluoride varnishes were applied to young children’s teeth and almost 25,000 young children received a screening to detect tooth decay.

even though more and more toddlers and preschoolers are making that important first visit to the dentist’s office, challenges remain. According to a 2016 First Things First study, conducted in partnership with the arizona Department of Health Services, 52% of Arizona’s kindergartners have experienced tooth decay compared with 36% of 5-year-old children nationally. locally in yuma county, a similar percentage of kindergarteners in the region had decay experience (51%) compared to Arizona (52%).

for more information on first things first in yuma county or to get involved, contact:

Rudy J. Ortiz, REGIONAL DIRECTOR. (928) 343-3020 or rjortiz@firstthingsfirst.org Nena Garcia, COMMUNITY OUTREACH COORDINATOR. (928) 343-3020 or mgarcia@firstthingsfirst.org