National Brush Day

Today is National Brush Day! Dentists across the United States have been working together to bring awareness to all American families about the prevalence of dental caries (also known as cavities) and how easily the disease can be prevented.

Did you know that dental caries (dental cavities) are actually a disease? Dental decay is the most common chronic childhood disease in the United States and affects over 16.5 million children in the US alone. And, oral disease causes children to miss 51 million hours of school – and their parents to miss out on 25 million work hours every year.

The good news is that dental decay can be prevented! The first step is to keep your children’s teeth clean and healthy and to schedule regular dental checkups to catch any dental problems early, before discomfort or pain set in. Less than 50% of US children brush their teeth twice a day – but there are some easy things you can do to encourage good oral hygiene.

Steps You Can Take to Encourage Good Oral Hygiene

1. Have your children brush with fluoride toothpaste for two minutes, twice each day.
   a. Kids ages 2 – 6 should have a pea size dab of toothpaste, older can use slightly more. Make sure to teach your kids to spit out the toothpaste instead of swallowing it!
   b. Kids under the age of two can just use a soft toothbrush and water, there’s no need for toothpaste.
2. Teach your kids to floss between their teeth once daily to remove food stuck food that a toothbrush may not reach. Children’s teeth can be flossed once two of their teeth start touching.
3. Take your child to the dentist for regular checkups.

Teaching proper dental hygiene will set your children up for a future of healthy teeth and gums. If you have any questions on dental care or would like to schedule an appointment with a dentist, consider the family friendly dentists at Tempe Dental Care. Our dentists have been serving the Phoenix valley for over 25 years and have patients from all over the US come for our gentle dentistry. We accept most dental insurance and if you don’t have dental insurance, that’s no problem! We offer an affordable dental membership plan for continuing dental care.