Oral Health | Chapa De Health Care | Auburn | Grass Valley
Give Kids a Smile Day- February 2nd
In honor of Give Kids a Smile Day, we remind you of the importance of good oral health and having regular dental check-ups. We also want to share some tips for helping your children to properly care for their mouth and teeth.
When should Dental Visits begin?
- Chapa-De recommends bringing your child in for their first dental visit once they get their first tooth or around their first birthday (whichever comes first). This initial visit will be to check for early signs of decay and developmental problems.
- Children and adults should then have a dental exam or check-up every year and regular dental cleanings as recommended by their dentist.
Why are Dental Cleanings important?
Dental cleanings are important to help you prevent cavities which are the leading cause of tooth decay. Ensuring your kids learn the proper way to brush their teeth will also ensure they grow up with the right tools to prevent tooth decay. Chapa-De’s Dental Hygienists take time during dental cleaning appointments to discuss and demonstrate the right way to floss and brush.
- By age 3, children should begin brushing their own teeth with adult supervision while only using a pea-size amount of toothpaste. You will need help with flossing.
- By age 8, children should be able to floss and brush their teeth themselves.
Dental cleanings can also help boost your overall health. Did you know that regular dental cleanings can help lower your risk of diseases such as heart disease and stroke?
With a parent’s guidance, and the help of your Chapa-De Dental Care Team, your child can have a good foundation for maintaining healthy teeth.
Give Kids a Smile Day is important because it’s the annual kick-off for the American Dental Association’s Give Kids a Smile Program. Since its beginning in 2003, this program has inspired thousands of dental professionals to provide free dental services to over 5.5 million underserved children.
According to Colgate, elementary school children miss an average of 6 days of school per year, 2.1 of those being due to dental pain. High school students miss an average of 2.6 days with 2.3 days being due to dental pain.
When children begin missing school, their grades can in turn suffer which can cause problems in school.
Each year, Chapa-De provides free dental screenings and health education at many local schools. Through this program, we are able to teach children how to take care of their teeth to prevent dental problems and it also enables us to find dental issues in their early stages before they start causing pain. When we identify a child who needs dental treatment, we then encourage the family to contact their dentist or to schedule an appointment at Chapa-De where we have programs available to help make treatment affordable.
So far, during the 2017-2018 School Year, screening events have been completed at the United Auburn Indian Community Tribal School, Rock Creek Elementary School, Auburn Elementary School and Alta Vista Charter School. Over 800 students have benefitted from these free events.
Chapa-De is also now offering our free dental screenings to preschool aged children through our local Head Start Programs and to children and their parent’s at the Auburn WIC office once per month.
For more information regarding our upcoming dental screenings or to make an appointment with your Chapa-De dental provider, please call (530) 887-2800 for our Auburn Health Center and (530) 477-8545 for our Grass Valley Health Center.
Chapa-De offers a variety of Dental services to ensure your family receives the best care. These services include:
- Diagnostic Exams
- Oral Hygiene Instruction
- Digital X-Rays
- Restorative Care (fillings)
- Dental Appliances (crowns, bridges, dentures)
- Limited Root Canals
- Fluoride Treatments
Oral Health | Chapa De Health Care | Auburn | Grass Valley
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Chapa-De Indian Healthcare Auburn Grass Valley