Haga clic aquí para leer esta información en español.
The National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center (OHRC) released two new resources for parents of young children from the Office of Head Start’s National Center on Early Childhood Health and Wellness (NCECHW). The handouts provide clear messages with photos about healthy eating and oral hygiene practices at home and about changes to dental offices to promote the safety of staff and patients during COVID-19.
Did you know?
It is critical for children under the age of three to see a dentist to prevent tooth decay and infections that can cause pain, difficulty with speech, challenges with eating and drinking, problems succeeding in school and lifelong health issues. All of these conditions will lead to increased health care costs for families.
When kids in Berks County do not see a dentist until after they are 3 years old, they risk having more challenging health issues that can affect them for the rest of their lives.
As a parent or caregiver, this site is meant to be a resource to help you provide better oral health to young children. By focusing on young children in Berks County, we’re catching them at the most vulnerable age for oral health issues, establishing healthy practices, and beginning to curb the county’s poor dental health issues.
Download our guidelines [English, Spanish] so you can set the stage for a lifetime of healthy habits or view the Healthy Mouth! Healthy Food! Healthy Children! handout from Healthy Teeth, Healthy Children of Pennsylvania.
Here’s something that many parents overlook: Pay attention to what your kids are using to stay hydrated.
Keep your kids’ hands (and mouths and teeth) away from beverages that contain added sugars such as flavored milks, caffeinated beverages, and low-calorie sweetened beverages.
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American Academy of Pediatrics, and American Heart Association recommend breast milk, infant formula, water, and plain milk as part of a new set of comprehensive beverage recommendations for children, outlined by age (birth through age 5).
Additional Resources
Need help finding a dentist? Check out www.pa211east.org or call 2-1-1 for help.
Buying children’s dental coverage through the marketplace? During open enrollment, choosing an oral health plan can be confusing, especially because dental coverage is often sold separately from a family’s health coverage. This guide explains what sorts of oral health plans people are likely to find and how to choose the one that works best for their family.
Facing high medical, dental or prescription costs? Kids across Pennsylvania can quality for Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Learn how to apply for CHIP here. Also, the FamilyWize Prescription Discount Card is a great resource to reduce prescription costs.
Are you pregnant? Your own oral health has an impact on your newborn! Read more on how to take care of your little one’s teeth – even before they are born! Download these infographics [English, Spanish] to learn more or check out the Protect Tiny Teeth toolkit from HealthyChildren.org for more information on healthy teeth for pregnant moms and infants.
Interested in learning more about the importance of fluoride? Check out FluorideExposed.org or check out this handout about Fluoride Varnish from Healthy Teeth, Healthy Children of Pennsylvania.