GCCC offers free dental care for kids this week
Panama City – An estimated one in five American children goes without dental care each year. Two thirds of states do not have effective policies in place to ensure proper dental health and access to care.
Gulf Coast Community College’s dental hygiene program is trying to change those numbers, hosting a free “Kidz Clinic” this week, in honor of National Children’s Dental Health month.
The clinic provides free exams, cleaning’s, x-rays, instruction on proper brushing and flossing techniques for children ages 3 to 12.
Clinic officials expect to see around 100 kids this week.
“This is something that there’s no excuses. The children come first, and we want to provide that care, so yes ma’am, it’s absolutely free,” said Melani Rochford.
Brenda Liles heard about the free dental care from co-workers and decided to bring her three children to the clinic Monday morning. The staff saw all three of her children at once.
“Here having them all go in at the same time, and being able to go back and forth is definitely a plus, and the free thing is always going to be great when you have three kids, and it’s always going to be cost effective to go to a free clinic,” said Liles.
Liles’ 10 year old daughter Mackenzie couldn’t agree more.
“I like that all of the rooms are close together, so I can hear my brother in the next room,” she enthused.
Love your pets with proper dental care
Although February is coming to a close, it’s Pet Dental Month and vets across the country are reminding Canadians how important it is to keep their pets’ mouths healthy all year long.
I talked to a local veterinarian to share some tips on keeping your pet’s chops in top shape.
Dr. Karyn Jones, veterinarian and owner of Ajax Animal Hospital, said oral care is critical for pets.
“I think it’s a really important part of overall health,” she said. “We kind of take it for granted that pets eating a hard kibbled food is going to keep their teeth clean.”
She equated the misconception to humans thinking that eating pretzels would keep their teeth and gums healthy.
Dr. Jones said similar to people, chronic infections and inflammations in animals could lead to problems with the heart and kidney, so it’s important to address a dental problem as soon as possible, or to prevent the issue altogether.
Pet owners should have a good relationship with their vet, and make sure their pets’ oral hygiene is examined during each visit. Also, pet owners should start a home dental-care regime when the pets are young.
“That would be getting used to them having their teeth brushed,” she said.
There are also pet mouthwashes or toothpastes, dental and oral-care treats, but she added the oral-care products used must be especially for pets; toothpaste for humans is not safe for animals.
Pet owners should look out for signs that a pet’s oral hygiene is at risk, such as pus in the mouth, red or inflamed gums or one of the biggest signs: bad breath. Some animals may become quieter than usual, or pull away when their mouth is touched, she said. If a pet stops eating, chances are the pain has gotten serious.
“It takes a lot of pain to actually make a pet stop eating,” she said.
If your pet is prone to dental problems, it’s best to increase vet visits to twice a year, Dr. Jones said.
According to the American Veterinary Dental Association, some other signs of dental disease are loose teeth or teeth that are discolored or covered in tartar, drooling or dropping food from the mouth, bleeding from the mouth and loss of weight.
Dental health stressed for kids’ first year
“Get it Done in Year One” is the theme for National Children’s Dental Health month, which is observed in February.
And following that theme, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry is encouraging parents and caregivers to use protective measures and care for healthy teeth. Pediatric dentists say parents should make an appointment with the dentist before the child’s first tooth appears.
Studies indicate dental costs for children who have their first dental visit before age 1 are 40 percent lower in the first 5 years than for those who do not see a dentist before to their first birthday.
“A lot of people don’t realize you need to see a dentist as soon as the teeth erupt,” said Dr. David H. Merritt, DMD, of Florence, in an e-mail.
According to AAPD, reasons for performing a dental exam in the child’s first year include:
To check for early signs of tooth decay or white spots.
To review with the child’s primary caretaker proper oral hygiene habits.
To offer nutritional counseling including a review of sugar intake and bottle or sippy cup use.
To discuss thumb or pacifier habits to optimize normal growth and decrease the chance for necessary orthodontic treatment.
To answer any questions the child’s caretaker may have concerning oral health, normal facial growth patterns and nutrition.
Visiting a dentist for the first time can be a frightening experience for many children. To alleviate that fear, Dr. Kenneth H. Swindle, D.M.D., of Florence, recommends parents bring their child with them on visits.
“Bring the child with you so children can see what it’s like to get your teeth cleaned,” he said.
Merritt said dental care goes beyond annual visits to the dentist.
“It’s what you do all day long that destroys your teeth,” he said.
Dr. Alan C. Sherrill, who has an office in Russellville, agrees.
“Prevention is the essential key,” he said. “Brush and floss daily and have two check-ups a year so you won’t have to have a root canal. It hurts me to see people let their mouths go. Take time to floss once a day and brush twice.”
By following those simple steps, Sherrill said 90 percent of dental decay could be prevented.
Niah A. Lilly is a student at the University of North Alabama, Florence.
