10 February 2011

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month (NCDHM), a celebration of awareness of good oral health habits for children. Dentists and other oral health providers across the country take time to focus on preventative oral health care for kids.

The origin of NCDHM comes from a one-day event on February 3, 1941 in Cleveland, Ohio. The American Dental Association (ADA) held its first observance of Children’s Dental Health Day eight years later and in 1955 transformed into a week-long event. In 1981, the program was extended to encompass the entire month and has been sponsored by the ADA ever since 1949.

Every state’s dental association celebrates NCDHM in different ways with different events. Common to each, however, are dentists conducting oral health screenings and providing educational programs for schools and community organizations. For example, this year the South Carolina Dental Association is partnering with the EdVenture Children’s Museum and offering family night dental screenings. In Massachusetts, the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine’s chapter of the American Association of Women Dentists is running a program at a shelter for poor and homeless women for kids and their mothers. The program is complete with interactive stations and goodie bags. And in Illinois, the state’s dental society is sponsoring a coloring contest for kids in kindergarten through third grade.

The ADA kicks off NCDHM every year with the Give Kids A Smile, a program where dentists nationwide provide free oral health care services to children from low-income families. While the program is largely run the first Friday of February, dentists and their dental teams can run the program during any month of the year. The ADA provides several resources and training tips for the program; this year, over 400,000 kids benefited from Give Kids A Smile in the first two weeks of February.

The Office of the U.S. Surgeon General calls dental and oral diseases a “silent epidemic” that affects even children. Dental care is one of the most prevalent unmet health needs among American children, with cavities and gingivitis among the most common dental problems. Caught early and treated, they are easily corrected and do not turn into more severe problems that cause unnecessary suffering.

By participating in NCDHM, parents and kids learn about good oral health habits such as how to properly brush and floss. Parents learn how to check their child’s mouth for early signs of gum disease and what proper nutrition is required to minimize periodontal disease. More tips and suggestions, including lesson plans for teachers and homeschooling parents, can be found on the U.S. Department of Agriculture website.

The NCDHM is a celebration of oral health awareness for infants, kids, and teens. Keeping a child’s smile happy and healthy begins at home; with proper guidance and following some simple tips, parents can help their children retain their beautiful smile for years to come.

This article was written by Ben H. Rome, Publications Manager and Staff Writer for the American Dental Education Association.