February is National Children’s Dental Health Month
February is not only the month of love – move aside Valentine’s Day – it is also National Children’s Dental Health Month (NCDHM). All month long, we seek to equip youth with the information they need to develop healthy oral care habits.
The roots of NCDHM run deep, according to the American Dental Association (ADA). The initiative began in 1941 as a one-day event. Forty years later, in 1981, it was developed into an observance spanning a full month, now known as NCDHM. The program reaches thousands of people around the country each year and is observed in many communities around our nation.
The ADA has a number of free resources available on its website that are used to develop kids’ oral care habits. For example, you can download a calendar of activities and a coloring sheet that children and their caregivers can use to help raise awareness of what kids can do to take care of their teeth, mouths, gums, and so on. There are at least a dozen activities that be downloaded, all of which are available in both Spanish and English.
Anyone interested in learning more about the history of NCDHM should read the content at the end of this post. Educators can find additional resources they can use in their classrooms, including the ability to order a free poster they can hang in their classrooms.
Dr. Kristina Palmer and her entire team at Oak Bark Dental are always available to assist children and their parents in developing healthy oral care habits that will last a lifetime. Get in touch with her team today to schedule an appointment!
National Children’s Dental Health Month (NCDHM) began as a one-day event in Cleveland, Ohio, on February 3, 1941. The American Dental Association held the first national observance of Children’s Dental Health Day on February 8, 1949. The single day observance became a week-long event in 1955. In 1981, the program was extended to a month-long observance known today as National Children’s Dental Health Month. Since 1941, the observance has grown from a two-city event into a nationwide program. NCDHM messages reach thousands of people in communities across the country and at numerous armed services bases. Local observances often include displays of posters provided by the American Dental Association (ADA), coloring and essay contests, health fairs, free dental screenings, museum exhibits, classroom presentations by dentists and other members of the dental team, and dental office tours
Each February, the ADA sponsors National Children’s Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. NCDHM messages and materials have reached millions of people in communities across the country.
Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children to get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.
Whether you’re a member of the dental team, a teacher, or a parent, the ADA has free online resources that can help you with oral health presentations, ideas for the classroom, and activity sheets that can be used as handouts.
We’re always here to answer any questions. 😊
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