Health Plan of San Joaquin | Focus Your Health | Fall 2018

8 Focus Your Health Your child’s baby teeth will not last a lifetime. But the good dental habits you pass along can have a big impact on your child’s smile for years to come. You can help your child avoid tooth decay and painful cavi- ties by establishing good dental habits. Here’s how: ➜ Schedule a dentist visit around your child’s first birthday. The dentist will check on your child’s oral health and growth. ➜ Brush your baby’s first teeth. Those first teeth (many babies get them after about six months) can decay if they’re not kept clean. When cleaning your child’s teeth, use a fluoride toothpaste. It helps strengthen and protect teeth. For children under age 3 years, use just a tiny bit of toothpaste (about the size of a grain of rice). Once your child turns 3 years old, use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. ➜ Help your child learn to brush. Younger children may use too much toothpaste. So put it on the brush for your child until he or she is about 6 years old. Teach your child how to use the toothbrush and spit out the excess toothpaste (but don’t rinse with water). ➜ Have your child brush at least twice a day. Teeth should be brushed morning and night for about two minutes at a time. ➜ Don’t forget to floss. As soon as your child has two teeth that touch, start flossing them each day. ➜ Ask about fluoride. Many cities put fluoride in the water. If yours doesn’t, ask your child’s provider about a fluoride supplement. Sources: American Academy of Pediatrics; American Dental Association Answers: 1. twice. 2. foods. 3. floss. 4. dentist. 5. sports. Caring for kids’ teeth JUST FOR KIDS What you can do to keep your smile Here are some rules to help you keep your smile. The letters of one word in each sentence are scram- bled. Can you put the letters in order so that the sentences make sense? 1 Brush your teeth at least ewitc a day. 2 Eat healthy ofsod . 3 At least once a day, slosf . 4 See your endttsi regularly. 5 Wear a mouth guard when you play osrpts . F O R M O R E hpsj.com/healthysmiles