Here’s a little joke for us: What does the dentist of the year get? A little plaque! (Get it? Because a plaque is an award but also the sticky deposit that is on teeth!) Sometimes it can be easy to forget to brush your teeth or floss every day, or maybe it has been a while since your last dental check-up. As easy as it is for adults to forget these things, it is even easier for children and youth to forget as well. February is National Children’s Dental Health Month and a wonderful reminder of the importance of establishing a good dental hygiene routine. 

Before we go any further, here are a few self-affirmations:

This year, the American Dental Association has released a “Sealants Make Sense” campaign to educate families on the importance of dental hygiene and a helpful way to prevent cavities. Sealants are thin protective coatings that dental health professionals can place over of the chewing surface of the back teeth, the molars. Sealants reduce the risk of decay and cavities in the molars by 80%! While sealants are not a replacement for brushing and flossing regularly, they are an important piece of good dental hygiene. According to the CDC, “school-age children without sealants have almost three times more cavities than children with sealants.”

Although this campaign is about raising awareness about sealants and the importance of preventing cavities, the goal of National Children’s Dental Health Month is to encourage everyone to practice healthy oral habits that can help youth and adults achieve overall health. After all, teeth are a big part of life. From smiling to eating, talking and everything in between, your teeth will be with you every step of the way. Encouraging youth to begin forming healthy habits while they are younger can help set them up for a lifetime of good dental hygiene. 

The American Dental Associate released 4 fun activity sheets for kids which include a coloring sheet, crossword activity, drawing activity, and a monthly calendar for youth to chart when they brush their teeth. View and download them below!

Here’s how YOU can be a Prevention Partner: