Soddy Daisy Smiles celebrates Chattanooga's kids

February is National Children's Dental Health month, and Soddy Daisy Smiles is celebrating by offering kids without dental insurance an exam, cleaning and digital X-rays for $29.

Robert & Mandy Shearer

"Children's dental health is just as important as adults', if not more so," said Dr. Mandy Shearer. "We want to
help parents out by both providing good care and educating them on common dental problems kids can face." From finding the right type of drinking cup for the right age to your child wearing the right mouth guard while playing his or her favorite sports, there is much to consider in the world of pediatric dentistry.

One of the biggest factors of children's dental health stems from what they eat and when they eat it, Dr. Shearer said.

"Kids are eating foods and drinks high in sugar and starches more often and in larger portions than in times past," she said. "A steady diet of sugary foods and drinks can ruin teeth and contribute toward tooth decay."

Too much sugar on kids' teeth provides food for bacteria which then produce acid that can eat away the enamel
on their teeth. While all foods have some type of sugar - and sugar cannot and should not be eliminated from one's diet - Dr. Shearer says parents should monitor the types of sugar their kids eat and how much is being consumed.

"Read labels and plan carefully for a good, balanced diet for you and your kids," she said.

Kids' dental health is critical to having healthy teeth in adulthood, and the staff at Soddy-Daisy Smiles are ready to help parents get off on the right track.

Other ways to help avoid children being at risk for tooth decay include limiting between-meal snacks and making sure they are healthy ones, and making sure any chewing gum offered to your children is sugarless. Also, have them drink plenty of water and milk, over sodas and sugary drinks.

"Good brushing and flossing habits are also critical along with regularly scheduled dental visits," Dr. Shearer said.

Even during the early years of childhood, she said parents need to keep in mind dental health and hygiene.

"As soon as teeth appear in the mouth, decay can occur," she said. "One of the risk factors for early childhood is 'baby bottle tooth decay' or 'nursing mouth syndrome,' which is brought on by prolonged exposure of baby teeth to fruit juice, milk or formula, which all contain sugar."

For sipping success, Dr. Shearer advises carefully choosing a good training cup and being careful of what types of
drink are put into the cup. It's also not a good idea to let a toddler carry the sipping cup around; taking a fall while holding or drinking from the cup can injure the child's mouth or teeth.

"If your child has not had a dental exam, schedule a well checkup for them with us," said Dr. Shearer.

She noted that the American Dental Association says it is beneficial for a child's first dental visit to occur within six
months of the appearance of his or her first tooth, and no later than the child's first birthday.