From Tammy Davenport,
Your Guide to Dental Care.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. One of the best ways to educate children about visits to the dentist and maintaining good oral hygiene is to familiarize yourself with the fundamentals of children’s dentistry.

Oral Hygiene

Brushing children’s teeth twice a day, flossing daily and regular dental check ups are essential for establishing good oral hygiene at an early age. Your child may need assistance or supervision until around the age of 6 or 7. This step by step guide will show you the proper way to brush your children’s teeth.

Preventing Cavities

While the best protection against cavities is good oral health, additional steps can be taken to help prevent decay. Be sure to use toothpaste that contains fluoride. When your child’s permanent back teeth erupt, you should talk to your child's dentist about applying dental sealants.

Dental Habits

Children can develop dental habits at a very early age. While it is important to maintain good oral habits in children, it is equally important to understand and break the bad habits.

Dental Problems

If your child does develop cavities, you should take him /her to the dentist for an evaluation and possible fillings. Do not be under the misconception that children do not need to have cavities filled because their baby teeth will fall out eventually. The fact is that children keep many of their baby teeth for a long time, and cavities can be painful.

Nutrition

Nutrition plays an important role in good dental health. Eating nutritional snacks and limiting the amount of sugary drinks will help to prevent plaque from forming on the teeth.

Educating Children

Children love to have fun while they are learning. Teaching children about good dental health is easy with these fun, free and educational dental activities such as, puzzles, games, printable coloring pages, brushing charts, fun facts, crafts, dental experiments and more.

Frequently Asked Questions About Children's Dentistry

Information About Orthodontics and Braces