National Children’s Dental Health Month (NCDHM)
February is National Children’s Dental Health Month and it is intended to promote the benefits of good oral health care to children. This year’s theme is “Healthy Habits for Healthy Smiles.” By now, you have probably seen flyers and posts promoting proper brushing, flossing, healthy foods, twice-a-year check-ups, and recommending limiting sugar intake.
While all of this is incredibly important…
It got me thinking about what a dental check-up for children should look like.
If I had a quarter for every time I gave a patient a speech about gum disease, only for them to look me dead in the eye and ask if they have any cavities- I might have already retired. Being in the “Cavity Free Club” has been the age-old definition of a good dental visit but the truth is, a healthy mouth is so much more than being cavity-free.
The mouth is the gateway to the rest of the body and it tells us a lot about your current health. It even gives warning signs for many systemic diseases. A dental exam should address, decay, gum disease, growth and development, airway, tooth position, a blood pressure screening, and an oral cancer screening. I have created a free guide you can access below to prepare you for your child’s next dental exam.
Your Dentist and Hygienist May be Missing These Warning Signs
If you have been told by your dentist or dental hygienist that your child has crowded teeth, a high palate, enlarged tonsils, gingivitis around the front teeth, and/or signs of teeth grinding, it would be wise to schedule an exam with a myofunctional therapist to dig a little deeper.
While your dentist and hygienist are highly educated professionals- Odds are, they see the warning signs, but they do not have the specialized education to tell you what to do with what they are seeing. I’ll be honest, a few years ago, I would have told you that teeth grinding in children is common and there isn’t anything you can do about it-sorry to all of those parents and kiddos! Many of these issues are really common, so they go excused as a variation of normal until you become symptomatic. At that point, we are often addressing symptoms, not the root cause.
The bottom line: Common is Not Normal.
Download my free guide “5 Questions to Ask at Your Child’s Next Dental Exam.” In the guide, you will find questions you can make sure to ask at your child’s next check-up and a promo code for $25 off a comprehensive exam with me, which is valid through March 31st, 2024.
Kristie Pinson, RDH, BSDH, OMT