Don’t Rush When You Brush
Aloha ‘Ohana!
As you know February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. Sometimes our keiki’s dental health and hygiene is neglected, and treatment is sought only after it reaches a stage, where medicines or changes in brushing techniques or other minimal procedures are ineffective.
It is essential for parents to pay attention to the oral health of their keiki as it is imperative that some teeth are formed in-utero (i.e., in the wombs of the mothers). Food, brushing techniques, and other habits determine the oral environments of the children, as they grow up.
There are certain oral hygiene habits that should be kept in mind by the parents so that they can ensure a sound oral environment for their keiki:
- Toddlers should be empowered to understand good oral hygiene and they should be given the opportunity to know about good oral health habits.
- Parents should ensure that their keiki do not consume sweets, chocolates, or sweetened drinks, which release acids – leading to teeth decay and the formation of dental plaque, and caries (cavities).
- Children should be reinforced about oral health and hygiene by story-telling and playful methods, rather than scaring them about bad oral health.
- It is imperative that parents should always “do and show”, i.e., practice what they want their children to follow and do.
- A mandatory follow-up to the dentist, once every six months or a year, should be inculcated as adults in their futures.
- Oral health should be treated as necessary, as physical health.
If you have any questions about your keiki’s dental health, call (808) 293-9231 or visit www.koolauloachc.org to make an appointment. Mahalo!
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