According to Arizona's Office of Oral Health, Common Parenting Practice Could Endanger Kids' Teeth
Glendale, AZ (PRWEB) February 7, 2008 -- Anyone who has experienced parenthood knows how a well-timed sippy cup of juice can save the day -- or night. But the same things that soothe and comfort might also bring about oral health problems later in life.
A significant concern to dentists is the practice of giving children juice or milk in a bottle or sippy cup to sip on throughout the day or at bedtime. Prolonged exposure to the sugars found in milk and juice contribute to tooth decay and a condition known as baby bottle tooth decay, a painful and damaging consequence for young children to endure.
February is National Children's Oral Health Month
This is a great time to remind parents what they can do to prevent cavities. "Some people think it's not a big deal for a young child to get a cavity or lose a baby tooth since these primary teeth eventually fall out anyway," said Jerry Denning, DDS, dental consultant for Delta Dental of Arizona. "However, maintaining healthy baby teeth is extremely important for the long-term health of permanent teeth. When baby teeth are damaged by decay, it can affect nutrition, speech development and self-esteem, and can cause problems with spacing as permanent teeth grow in."
According to Arizona's Office of Oral Health, tooth decay is the most common childhood disorder affecting Arizona children, with 34% having some form of tooth decay by the age of three. Recent research demonstrates this burden is distributed unevenly, affecting more Arizona children from low-income families, children without dental insurance and children of important cultural groups such as Native Americans and Hispanics.
First Dental Visit by Age One
In order to combat and prevent dental decay, RaNee Toscano, R.D. H., and Acting Chief of the Arizona State Department of Health Services - Office of Oral Health stresses the importance of parents starting early, "Seeing a dentist by age one or when your child's first tooth erupts is critical to their long-term health and well being." Prevention is the key to maintaining healthy teeth. There are several things parents can do to protect their child's primary teeth: Don't put your child to sleep with a bottle or sippy cup. Maintain a balanced healthy diet low in sugary and starchy foods is important. Get fluoride varnish treatments if your child is at risk for decay or sealants once their molars erupt. Promote brushing twice a day and visit the dentist twice a year.
Prevention based strategies are the focus of the Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation where grants are targeted to programs providing fluoride varnish treatments for young children at risk for cavities. School age children without dental insurance can receive dental screenings and sealants as part of school-based services. In the past ten years, the Foundation has given back more than $2 million to the community to combat oral disease in Arizona. For more information on the Foundation, please visit www.deltadentalaz.com/foundation.
About Delta Dental of Arizona
Delta Dental of Arizona is the leading dental benefits provider in Arizona with the largest network of 2,800 dentists, servicing more than 4,500 locations. Passionate about oral health and its importance to generations of families, Delta Dental of Arizona has worked for 35 years to improve oral health by emphasizing preventative care and making dental coverage accessible for a wide variety of employers, groups and individuals. Delta Dental of Arizona, in partnership with EyeMed, introduces DeltaVision, quality vision insurance plans that make maintaining healthy eyesight affordable. Quality dental, vision and FSA benefits are now available from a single, trusted source. For more information about Delta Dental of Arizona, please visit the website at www.deltadentalaz.com.
###
WNQA Articles:
Anti-Obesiety Drugs, Diets and Weight Loss Pills
Anti-obesity drugs and diet pills help individuals lose weight faster and more effectively than other methods of weight loss Some of the more popular diet pills nowadays include Orlistat, Sibutramine, Metformin, Byette and Symlin
Eat Healthy and Do Exercise To Combat Arthritis
When you feel tremendous pain in your shoulder, back, joints or wrists, you may be suffering from arthritis. In such a condition you need medications as these pains are unbearable sometimes, causing even fainting in a person.
Parenting Your Teenager: Self-Decorating or Self-Harm - How to Tell the Difference
Q. I need your help with a question about my teen-age daughter.
Fitness4Diabetics.com Offers Customized Nutrition and Exercise Coaching for People with Diabetes
Fitness4Diabetics.com provides one-on-one exercise and nutrition coaching for people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Working in partnership with member's physicians, coaches work with diabetics who want to achieve and maintain healthy lifestyles. Coaching team is comprised of Certified Diabetic Educators including nurses, registered dietitians and exercise physiologists.
Weight Loss Supplements - Which Should You Take?
Trying to lose weight is tough. It's real tough. There's months of eating right and working out to get back into shape. It seems like anything that might make the process just a little bit easier would be welcome. There are many things out there that could help, but what might really work?
Weight Loss Surgery: Gastric Bypass Questions Answered
Is weight loss something you have struggled with for years Are you suffering from life altering and/or threatening obesity
Quick Weight Loss or Quackery
Cellulite - Reduce The Appearance
---------------------------------
Sallie Elizabeth has always had large breasts and a big
bottom, and she has accepted them as part of her genetic
makeup. But when cellulite appeared in the back of her upper
leg, she "freaked out" and resolved to do something about
it.
Buying Ballet Shoes Online
Shopping for ballet shoes, like most other items, has been made easier by the presence of well stocked and quality assured online businesses. Not only the shoes, but virtually every piece of ballet gear is available, along with a huge array of urban and street dancing attire.
Safer Dates Has Created its Own Match by Joining Internet Dating with Social Networking
Safer Dates continues it's commitment to provide a safer online dating experience by combining their online dating services with social networking services.
Free Online Dating As A Tool for Single Parents
One of the most useful features of online dating for single parents is the flexibility that many online dating services offer. For single parents who are easing themselves back into the dating arena, online dating can be a useful tool. Free online dating sites are particularly useful, since saving money can be challenge enough as it is, whether singles have children or not. Many single parents may be wary of entering back into the dating world, but online dating provides a way for parents to slowly ease back into the process. New members can start by simply browsing around free online dating websites to get a feel for how they work and what type of people they might be able to meet. Single parents often find other free dating websites de...
Pregnancy Chat Rooms ? Where Experience Meets Apprentice
If you are pregnant for the first time, bless you! You are probably tired, sore for no reason, and questioning the usefulness of your husband. You quite possibly are starving all the time, sick when you eat, and betting that God is indeed male and laughing at your pain. If you are with child and looking for answers to life?s little questions about childbearing and life after baby, pregnancy chat rooms are the perfect place to meet other women that are in your shoes and those that hold the answers.
A Healthy Weight Loss Diet Plan
All overweight people yearn for some kind of dieting miracle ... something like Cinderella's fairy godmother who will wave her magic wand and produce an instantly slim body. Alas, this isn't going to happen. Instead, seek a healthy weight loss diet plan instead. The multi billion dollar weight loss industry is loaded with all kinds of illusions. Here is the truth about some of the most popular ones.
The Maharishi Ayurveda Approach to Weight Loss
5 Easy Steps to A Healthier WeightAlthough different people have weight problems for different reason, these 5 tips address fundamental lifestyle habits that affect virtually everyone. The really good news is that these 5 powerful tips are easy to implement and can bring about great changes in your life and health once in place.