February is National Children’s Dental Health Month
February 17th, 2006February is National Children’s Dental Health Month
MiamiHerald.com 02/12/2006 Start dentist visits early
Start dentist visits early
BY DEBBIE GLASSERglasser @ nsu.nova.edu
February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, an annual initiative sponsored by the American Dental Association to promote the importance of oral hygiene from an early age.
The earlier parents pay attention to their children’s dental health, the better, according to Dr. Romer Ocanto, chairman and predoctoral director of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at Nova Southeastern University’s College of Dental Medicine.
Many parents are surprised to learn that their baby’s first trip to the dentist’s office should come as early as his or her first birthday.
‘Both the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that a child’s first visit to the pediatric dentist be as soon as the first `baby’ tooth appears,” Ocanto said.
”Baby teeth are important for several reasons,” he said. “They allow children to chew food properly and, therefore, influence nutrition. And they also guide the eruption of permanent teeth by saving space for them. This can influence language skills because some primary teeth have a role in children’s speech development.
”Ocanto said early dental care goes beyond taking care of baby’s first teeth. It sends the message that dental health is important.