Throughout National Children’s Dental Health Month, the 56th Dental Squadron will sponsor activities to raise awareness of the importance of oral health in youth.

Developing good habits at a young age along with regular dental visits will help children have healthy teeth and gums. Dental health issues can cause children to miss hours of school every year, which is why the dental squadron would like to increase awareness about oral health and foster the importance of good home care.

The 56th DS dental team recommends parents and children practice brushing their teeth together for two minutes twice a day as well as flossing once a day as soon as teeth start to grow in. It’s also a good idea to clean baby’s gums before teeth come in. Wipe the gums with gauze or a soft wash cloth without toothpaste twice a day.

DS also recommends getting into the habit of proper dental hygiene at home as soon as possible.

The dental team will visit Luke Elementary, the 56th Force Support Squadron Child Development Center and Youth Center during the month of February.

For more information on proper oral hygiene, go to ADA.org or mouthhealthy.org.