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We will delve into the Brush portion of the Brush, Book, Bed campaign.

February 10, 2020

By Kaylin Staten

 

Cabell County Family Resource Network and its partners promote National Kids’ Dental Health Month every February. Since 2017, our Kids’ Dental Health Resource Kit (Link to: http://bit.ly/kidsdentalhealthguide_download) has found its way to Cabell County residents and others across the state of West Virginia.

We are very passionate about promoting kids’ oral health!

Each year, we focus on Brush, Book, Bed, a program from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Brush, Book, Bed helps parents and caregivers focus on giving their children a predictable, easier nighttime routine that will establish healthy habits for life.

Brush, Book, Bed has three steps:

  1. Each night, help your children to brush their teeth.
  2. Read a favorite book (or two)!
  3. Get to bed at a regular time each night.

This week, we’re taking a deeper dive into the Brush portion of Brush, Book, Bed. 2020 is the 75th Anniversary of water fluoridation. Water fluoridation began in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1945, and since then, fewer cavities have been seen in children. The more water with fluoride you drink, the less tooth decay will occur in children and adults. Learn more here. (link to: https://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/basics/anniversary.htm)

Here are some brushing best practices to implement in your own household:

  1. Begin your child’s visits to the dentists starting at age one.
  2. As soon as your baby is born, use a soft washcloth to wipe your baby’s gums after he or she eats.
  3. As soon as you see your child’s first tooth, you can start brushing! Use a smear of toothpaste the size of a grain of rice for two minutes two times per day. (This is recommended for all children under 3.)
  4. When your child is between the ages of 3 and 6, use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. You can also let children brush their own teeth, but parents should go over all of the missed spots!

To learn more about Kids’ Dental Health Month, read through our Electronic Press Kit here: http://bit.ly/kidsdentalhealth_EPK2020

 

To download the Kids’ Dental Health Resource Kit, click here. (http://bit.ly/kidsdentalhealthguide_download)