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HomeMembersHelpful ToolsHealth ResourcesDental CarePreventive Dental Care

Importance of Dental Care

 

Healthy gums and teeth are important for talking, eating, and smiling. 

How we feel about our teeth affects our self-esteem, how well we do at work and school, and how others react to us. Take care of your teeth for good physical and emotional health. Here are some ideas for good oral health.

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Dental Health | Tips & Tricks

➤There's more to a sparkling smile than meets the eye. We're getting to the root of dental care best practices with a series of tips that can help ensure your teeth are as healthy as can be.

 

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Preventive Care | Dental Health

What can you do to maintain good oral health?
  • Daily oral care is important. Brush your teeth and gums with a soft bristle toothbrush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
  • Use dental floss daily to clean between your teeth.
  • Replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months
What should you eat and drink for good dental health?
  • Eat a balanced diet and limit between-meal snacks. Avoid sugars and starches when snacking, and limit the number of snacks eaten throughout the day.
  • Avoid drinking soft drinks such as sodas and sports drinks. These beverages are a serious cause of tooth enamel erosion.
  • Do not smoke or chew tobacco.
Why is it important to visit the dentist?
  • Your dentist or oral hygienist does a better job cleaning your teeth than you can do yourself at home.
  • An exam of the mouth can provide early detection of pre-cancerous or cancerous lesions.
  • Your dentist can offer advice about protective measures such as supplemental fluoride and dental sealants.
How do dental sealants protect you from cavities?

Dental sealants are an effective, but underused protection against cavities.

  • Fluoride treatments and dental sealants help prevent cavities, especially in younger patients, who are often less mindful of their oral hygiene and habits.
  • In the same way that calcium builds bone strength, fluoride enhances enamel strength, which diminishes the risk of tooth decay. While most public water contains fluoride, additional fluoride applications can further protect your teeth.

 

Dental Care for Moms and Children

Take care of your oral health during pregnancy

Pregnancy is a time of many changes, including changes in the mouth and in your oral health. Improving oral health during pregnancy can also help prevent early cavities in children. Dental decay is an infectious transmissible disease. Mothers can pass on decay-causing germs to their babies. Good oral health for moms can mean good oral health for their babies.

 

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Your Child's Dental Health Timeline

How do you clean your baby’s teeth?

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From Newborn to Gradeschooler ⤦

Newborns (0-1 years)
Always clean your infant's gums after feeding.
  • Cradle your baby with one arm
  • Wrap a moistened washcloth around the index finger of your free hand
  • Gently massage the gum tissues


Infants normally begin teething between four and six months of age. 

  • When gums hurt, give your infant a chilled clean teething ring.
  • Once a tooth comes in, start to use a child's soft bristled toothbrush, with no toothpaste, in addition to massaging the gum tissues.
  • Schedule your child's first dental appointment. Your child should have an exam by a dentist before his/her first birthday or within 6 months after the first tooth comes in.
Toddler (1-3 years)

Continue to brush your child's teeth twice a day with plain water

  • By 30 months of age, all of the primary (first) teeth should have come into the mouth.
  • At age 2, begin brushing with a pea-sized amount (small smear) of fluoridated toothpaste. 
  • Teach your child to spit out the toothpaste. Observe to ensure that your child does not swallow the toothpaste.


Begin use of low fluoride toothpaste at 18 months

  • From 18 months to 6 years of age, children should begin using low fluoride toothpaste. 
  • It’s also advised that they don’t rinse their mouths with water. This will ensure they keep a small amount of fluoride in their mouth which helps to protect their teeth.
Preschool (3-5 years)

Water is the best drink for preschoolers

  • Another important dental health tip for preschoolers is that they should drink tap water throughout the day.  As all municipal water supplies in New York State are fluoridated by directive, this will help protect your child's teeth from decay. 
  • Recognize that shop-bought bottled water generally does not have fluoride in it.  Plain milk is also a healthy drink for children, and kids aged over 2 may also drink reduced-fat milk.

Encourage your child to stop sucking their thumbs or using pacifiers

  • Most children that develop this reflex stop sucking their fingers or thumbs between two and four years of age. To support your child in breaking the habit, try encouragement and preoccupation. For example, you could offer a reward or reward or treat, or mark progress on a chart.
  • As children tend to drift back into old habits, it may take several attempts to break the habit entirely.
Gradeschooler (5-12 years)
Children should be able to brush unsupervised by the age of 6 or 7 

However, it is important for parents to keep tabs on their child's dental routines.  According to the CDC, approximately 1 of 5 (20%) children aged 5 to 11 years have at least one untreated decayed tooth.

  • Your child should brush for two minutes, at least two times a day, with a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste
  • At age 10, teach your child how to use dental floss.

Healthy meals are important for healthy teeth

Encourage your child to enjoy a wide variety of healthy foods every day including vegetables, fruits, whole grains, dairy, lean meat, fish, and eggs.

  • Vegetables and Fruits, in particular, deliver important nutrients and vitamins to our bodies. In addition, milk, yogurt and cheese are excellent sources of calcium, which is good for teeth. 
  • It’s highly recommended that you choose dairy products without added sugar or artificial food additives.
  • Remember, you are the role model of healthy eating for your children. They learn about food by watching their parents, siblings, and others.
 Visit your dentist if your child damages their teeth
  • It's important to understand that children lose baby teeth at 6-12 years of age.  In preparation, monitor your child and encourage them to tell you if/when they lose a tooth.
  • If your child loses or knocks out a baby tooth, do not put it back in place. This will damage the adult tooth underneath the gum. 
  • If an adult tooth (that has grown in after the loss of the baby tooth) is knocked out or damaged, schedule an appointment with your dentist immediately. 

Let's Get Your Child Covered

Learn about New York State's Child Health Plus program through Fidelis Care. Almost every child is eligible, regardless of family income or immigration status. Only monthly premiums vary based on income, and can be free or as low as $15 per month.
More on Child Health Plus

Visit our Smiles that Shine Campaign to learn more about maintaining healthy smiles.