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All during February, we are taking part in the celebration of National Children's Dental Health Month. This annual observance is sponsored by the American Dental Association (ADA) to raise awareness of how important it is to develop good oral hygiene habits at an early age. Good dental health will promote your children's overall health and even their performance at school. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, an estimated 51 million school hours are lost per year due to dental-related illness.

To get every child off to the best possible start, we recommend that the first dental visit take place around the time of your child's first birthday. This will establish a “dental home” for your little one and allow caring professionals to respond to any issues that come up early on. Regular, semi-annual visits should follow to maintain healthy baby teeth, which in turn will have a positive affect on the permanent teeth that will replace them.

If your children are of school age, they will probably enjoy some of the games, puzzles and coloring sheets the ADA has created to help instill healthy habits. You can access the whole collection at http://www.ada.org/5578.aspx#sheets.

If you have any questions about oral health for children, please contact us today at (248) 589-2021 to schedule an appointment for your child. You can read more about the importance of the “Age One Dental Visit in Dear Doctor magazine.

One topic we are often asked about is finger or thumb sucking and/or pacifier use — a challenge that most parents or caregivers will likely face with at least one of their children. The first and perhaps most important thing to remember is that it is totally normal for babies and young children to suck their fingers, thumb or a pacifier. It only becomes a problem when it continues as the child ages or if you unnecessarily make it a problem.

For most children, the sucking instinct starts in the womb before birth. This fact is evident, as many expectant mothers are shown their child sucking fingers or a thumb during a mid or late-term sonogram. Once the child is born, the habit may continue because it provides the child with a sense of security. Other research indicates that some babies start sucking habits as a way to make contact with, test and learn about their new world outside the womb. It is interesting to note that most children typically tend to stop finger or thumb sucking habits on their own and without much intervention between the ages of two and four. However, for others it can continue much longer. And that is the scenario that parents and caregivers need to be aware of so that they can monitor sucking habits.

Children who suck their thumbs or a pacifier after the age of two have a higher risk of developing some long term negative effects from the habit. This includes but is not limited to upper jaw development issues and “buck” teeth (upper front teeth that protrude forward out of a natural position towards the lips). For this reason, some researchers feel that children should cease thumb or finger sucking and/or pacifier use by 18 months of age. However, the Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that parents and caregivers encourage children to cease this habit by age three.

If you feel your child is at risk due to his/her age and habits, please call our office at (248) 589-2021 to schedule an appointment for your child. After a thorough exam, we can work with you to create a strategy for helping your child overcome finger, thumb or pacifier habits.