Powell Dentist
Dr. Jerry Cheung advises, “Now is the time to get your kids thinking about brushing and flossing first thing in the morning and at the end of the night......."
Powell, Ohio (PRWEB) September 11, 2014
The beginning of the school year takes some adjustment for kids and parents alike. Time flies and people are forced to face the fact that people need to rely on a calendar to get through our children’s busy lives. Despite earlier bedtimes, crack-of-dawn wake-up calls, and soccer practice chaos, the beginning of the school year can serve as a way to refocus on developing structured health habits. Establishing positive routines, particularly in the area of oral health, can serve as a constructive anchor in children’s daily lives and boost performance.
Columbus, Ohio based Family Dentist, Dr. Jerry Cheung advises, “Now is the time to get kids thinking about brushing and flossing first thing in the morning and at the end of the night—the very first and last things children do in between crazy schedules. If parents can get kids to brush after lunch, parents are really doing a great job!”
He adds, “While getting kids to brush and floss can be just as challenging as getting children to do homework, it is crucial to to the overall development and health. If adults teach them young, children are less likely to experience cavities, undergo oral surgery, root canals, fillings, implants and partials later in life. Most importantly, parent's can help them avoid pain.”
In a study conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services, Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General, it is reported at 51 million school hours are lost each year to dental-related issues. The National Children's Oral Health Foundation reports that tooth decay is the number one childhood illness.
Improving access to and an awareness of pediatric oral health has been a growing concern for decades. In fact, pediatric oral health is now deemed an “Essential Health Benefit” under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This federal emphasis on oral health access for children now makes it mandatory that new state- and federally-facilitated marketplaces in the individual and small-group insurance markets automatically cover oral health services for children under the age of 18. Parents can take note and utilize these services without fear of exorbitant costs for checkups and treatment.
Dr. Cheung comments, “EEC, or Early Childhood Caries (bacteria that causes tooth decay) is an enormous issue for children as young as five years old. It affects nearly half of them in the US. Parents must place just as much emphasis on the care of baby teeth as it does to permanent teeth because they are integral to the child’s speech development and eating habits. As a chronic disease, EEC can later effect the health of permanent teeth as well.”
Having served hundreds of children from Columbus-to-Powell-to-Dublin, family dentist, Dr. Cheung stresses that tooth pain, cavities, and poor overall oral hygiene can deeply impact a child’s ability to function optimally. Poor oral health can limit a child’s ability to eat, cause social anxiety, and detract from what people should be focusing on—school work and leading a happy, care-free life. Dr. Cheung has continued to encourage parents to use this time of the year to create a renewed focus on dental health.
Who is Bright Smile Dental?
Dr. Jerry Cheung serves the Greater Columbus community through extensive oral health services. Dr. Cheung has vast experience in oral health having trained and worked in a variety of settings ranging from hospital and surgical dentistry to pediatric dentistry. His comfort-focused practice, Bright Smile Dental, places emphasis on creating a positive experience for Bright Smile Dental patients through a state-of-the art facility, a warm, highly trained staff, and specialized instruments used to specifically treat children and patients with special needs. Bright Smile Dental serves all members of the family providing emergency dental services, cosmetic dentistry, pediatric dentistry, sedation dentistry, and orthodontics.
For more information on how to motivate and educate patients and children on the benefits of optimal oral health, contact Dr. Jerry Cheung and the staff at Bright Smile Dental at 614-799-9140 or visit them on the web at http://www.brightsmilepowell.com/.