Orthodontist reaches out for children’s dental health month
The American Dental Association designates every February as National Children’s Dental Health Month.
In an effort to help Sussex County children better understand the importance of good oral health, Dr. Jonathan Johnson of Johnson Orthodontics in Rehoboth Beach prepared a fun virtual presentation for second-grade students about keeping their teeth healthy and clean. He also provided every second-grader in the Cape district and at Sussex Academy elementary school with a tooth-brushing kit that included a child-sized toothbrush, toothpaste, 2-minute brushing timer and dental floss.
By the time most children reach second grade, their permanent teeth have already started to come in, and they are coordinated enough to brush independently. Cavities and tooth decay are the most common chronic diseases of childhood, impacting children more than asthma. Recent studies by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention show that children who have poor oral health miss more school and receive lower grades than children who don’t. However, cavities are preventable.
Johnson knows that encouraging children to develop good dental habits early on, including wholesome diets and proper brushing, will ensure they enjoy a lifetime of healthy smiles.
