When it comes to the health of our children we would go to the ends of the earth and back to keep them healthy. It doesn’t matter if that means sacrificing some of our favorite things in life, as long as they are well we are happy. With all this determination it comes as a surprise that 51 million hours of school is missed yearly as a result of dental problems. It would seem that Long Island gum disease hasn’t made the list of health care prevention.

With a number that high the American Academy of Periodontology decided to take action. Their goal is to educate both children and parents on the prevention of gum disease. To meet children’s dental needs even further 120 dentists have volunteered their time to deliver dental care to thousands of low income children. Their motivation comes from the Surgeon General’s Report stating that 37 percent of children have not been to a dental check-up prior to starting school.

Providing low cost or free dental care and providing a solid education on preventing gum disease will only touch the surface of what our children need to have a healthy smile. Parents play a pivotal role in helping their children reach oral care goals and keep their gums healthy.

Helping out is simple. Always set a good example for your son or daughter by brushing and flossing daily. When they see mom and dad taking good care of their teeth children are more likely to get into the same habit. Start brushing your child’s teeth as soon as they start to break through the gums. Starting early helps them see dental care as a natural part of their daily routine.

Be sure to provide your child with a well balanced diet and monitor his or her mouth regularly for any unusual changes such as, red or swollen gums, bleeding gums, bad breath or gums that have pulled away from their teeth.

Taking a few extra steps early on will help parents stop Long Island gum disease in its tracks. If you notice any signs of gum disease early intervention is important. Dr. Scharf treats gum disease with a laser, not a scalpel, giving patients an alternative to gum surgery call Dr. Scharf at 631-661-6633 or visit him on the web at http://drscharf.com.

Tags: bleeding gums long island, Long Island peridontist, long island periodontist, periodontist disease Long Island, periodontist in Long Island

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 3rd, 2010 at 5:37 pm and is filed under long island gum disease. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.