A lifetime of healthy teeth and gums can start with good oral hygiene practices, as promoted during National Children’s Dental Health Month.

Dr. Dan Nelson of Springbrook Family Dentistry in Guthrie Center says some parents may believe it’s unnecessary to teach oral hygiene to young children, as they lose and replace their baby teeth. Nelson clarifies that this makes no difference in the development of bacteria in gums leading to early childhood cavities, which he says is the most common chronic childhood disease. Nelson says cavities are 100% preventable, and shares when kids should start maintaining their pearly whites, “As soon as they can grasp the toothbrush, really. It’s good to have the kids brush their teeth and then all the way up to maybe second grade have the parents come and brush their teeth again as well to make sure they’re doing a good job.”

Nelson recommends for kids three years old and younger to use a grain of rice sized-portion of toothpaste, and for those three to six years old, the size of a pea. He also mentions a common contributor to cavity development is sugar consumption, whether it be from soda, energy drinks, or juice. You can learn more about best dental hygiene practices from Nelson during today’s Let’s Talk Guthrie County program on air and at raccoonvalleyradio.com.