NEW YORK, New York – The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Oral-B and television personality and author, Joan Lunden, are joining together throughout the month of February for Children's Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of children's oral health and to remind parents to teach healthy oral care habits. An often overlooked aspect of children's health, oral health problems continue to be a problem with almost 20 percent of children ages 2-3 having at least one untreated cavity and more than 50 percent of children developing some form of gingivitis.

"Oral health problems are preventable, and that's why the AAP recently added oral health to its top priorities. Instilling proper oral care in a child at an early age can help prevent problems with growth, learning, speech and eating," states pediatrician, David Krol, MD, MPH, FAAP (Fellow, American Academy of Pediatrics). "The pediatrician's office is an ideal place for new moms to learn about oral health and get recommendations for creating a dental routine for their children."

Joan Lunden, a mother of seven children (including two sets of twins under 4-years old), has made creating a dental routine a priority for her kids. "Our children depend on us to help them form the good habits that will guide them into a healthy adulthood," says Lunden. "There is so much that we can do to help our children get off to the right start so that they can have a lifetime of good dental health. Choosing the right oral care products that are designed especially for kids, such as Oral-B Stages, is an important first step to a healthy smile."

Tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease, five times more common than asthma. Both the U.S. Surgeon General and Congress acknowledge that this "silent epidemic" in oral health needs to be addressed by parents and healthcare providers. (1) This and other children's dental issues result in a loss of 51 million school hours each year.

Parents can take the first step in their children's oral health by doing the following:

• Begin oral care routine early — To prevent the buildup of plaque, parents should begin by regularly cleaning their newborn baby's gums with a damp washcloth following feedings. When the first tooth appears, parents should brush their child's teeth for two minutes twice a day to begin the recommended regimen. Not only is this important to help prevent decay, but also helps acclimate kids to the recommended brushing time.
• Select the right tools — Use a toothbrush with extra-soft bristles and non-fluoride toothpaste until age 2 when it's safe to switch to toothpaste with fluoride. Choose products that are designed to meet children's needs at different ages such as dentition (formation of their teeth and jaw), dexterity (ability to handle a toothbrush) and development (emotional changes and interest).
• Visit the dentist regularly — A child's dental visit should begin by 12 months of age with additional visits determined by the dentist to ensure proper oral development. Parents should discuss the best methods to care for their child's oral health with the pediatrician even before the first dental visit.
• Take first steps to healthy eating — Proper nutrition is important to your child's oral health. Foods high in sugars and starches help decay-causing bacteria make acid that destroys teeth. Choose nutritious snacks that build strong teeth and resist decay and gum disease such as veggies, fruit, yogurt, cheese and milk.
• Make brushing fun — Brush your teeth together to set a good example. Choose toothbrushes and toothpaste with popular kid's characters. Sing a 2-minute song to your child to encourage brushing for the dentist-recommended time. Making the brushing routine fun will encourage proper habits early and help prevent oral care issues later in life.

"It's so important that parents learn about proper oral care and talk to their pediatricians about this issue," says Lunden. "To ensure that more parents are equipped with this information, Oral-B Stages will contribute a portion of each Oral-B Stages toothbrush and toothpaste purchase during Children's Dental Health Month to the Healthy Smiles program, which provides education and access to dental care to underprivileged children."

Parents and children can learn more oral-care tips by visiting http://www.oralb.com/stages or http://www.aap.org.

ABOUT ORAL-B

The Oral-B brand is a worldwide leader in the over $5 billion oral care brushing market. Part of the Procter and Gamble Company (NYSE: PG), the brand includes manual and power toothbrushes for children and adults, oral irrigators and oral care centers and interdental products, such as dental floss. Oral-B manual toothbrushes are used by more dentists than any other brand in the U.S.

ABOUT AAP

The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists, and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.

(1) Oral Health America: A Report of the Surgeon General, United States Department of Health & Human Service, May 25, 2000

SOURCE Oral-B Stages

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