Practitioners prepare for National Children's Dental Health Month

In recognition of National Children's Dental Health Month, one California orthodontist is preparing to spend February educating patients and parents about the importance of proper oral hygiene.

Dr Atoosa Nikaeen said she will focus on the role of nutrition in dental care, asserting that a diet that is low in nutrients can result in a mouth less resistant to harmful infections as well as a greater susceptibility to tooth decay and periodontal disease.

National Children's Dental Health Month is sponsored by the American Dental Association.

The National Institutes of Health recommend that dental care begin during a child's infancy and advise that parents use a soft cloth to clean teeth and check them regularly for spots and stains.

By raising awareness about the importance of sound dental health, the ADA has underscored the shortage of dentists and insufficient dental insurance coverage in many areas of the country.

According to a recent report by W.K. Kellogg Foundation, a charitable organization that lends its services to children and families, about 48 million Americans do not have access to routine oral healthcare, and millions more can get to a dentist but cannot afford to pay for their services.