National Children’s Dental Health Month

National Children’s Dental Health Month

Each February, the American Dental Association (ADA) sponsors National Children’s Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the important role oral health plays in keeping kids happy and healthy. Research continues to show the impact that oral health can have on your overall health and developing healthy habits early in life can make a difference! This month, we celebrate all the parents, teachers, caregivers and dental teams who work hard to put kids on the path to a healthy future.

Healthy Habits Start Early

The centerpiece of good oral health is preventative care. This includes eating healthy, brushing and flossing daily, and making time for regular visits to the dentist. Developing these healthy habits early will put your child on track to a lifetime of healthy, confident smiles.

Visit the Dentist

The ADA recommends that the first dental visit take place within six months after the first tooth appears, but no later than a child’s first birthday. Your dentist and hygienist will talk to your child about good oral health and answer any questions you may have.

Eat Healthy

A well-rounded healthy diet includes plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains. Eating food of different colors is a great way to encourage children: Blueberries, orange carrots, yellow squash, green beans and red apples. Encourage your kids to enjoy treats in moderation and avoid sugary foods, juices and candy, especially sticky gummy candies, gummy vitamins and fruit “roll-ups”, which can erode tooth enamel and cause cavities. If you eat these treats, make sure to rinse your mouth or brush your teeth immediately after.

Brush & Floss

Start soon after birth by gently wiping your child’s gums daily with gauze or a soft washcloth. As soon as a first tooth comes in, you can add a soft-bristled toothbrush. Caregivers should brush the child’s teeth until they are old enough to do a good job on their own. Use a small amount of an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste and make sure your child does not swallow it. Flossing should begin when any two teeth touch. Model good behavior and let your child watch YOU care for your teeth.

Beware of Sports Drinks

Sports Drinks sound healthy, but are they? Most drinks advertise they help with hydration but usually contain high levels of sugar and acids, which can erode tooth enamel and lead to cavities. Make sure your kids know that the best hydration is fresh water! If your child does drink sports drinks, in moderation, here are some tips to minimize the impact:

  • Swallow immediately and do not hold the sports drink in the month
  • Alternate with sips of water to rinse the mouth.
  • Do not rinse mouthguards in sports drinks.
  • Do your research and substitute dental friendly sports drinks

What About Braces?

Straight teeth do more than give you a great smile. They help with your health and wellbeing. Believe it or not, dentists can recognize bad bites as early as 2-3 years of age. Often, early steps can be taken to reduce the need for major orthodontic treatment at a later age. When kids are 2-6 years old, dentists look at how the teeth are coming in and consider harmful habits such as finger or thumb sucking. The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommend that children have a consultation with the orthodontist by age 7. Today, there are so many options from traditional braces with fun colors and decorated cases to teen Invisalign and clear, plastic aligners. Your Orthodontist will work up a treatment plan just for you.

Sealants Make Sense

Protect your child’s teeth from cavities with sealants. Sealants are thin, plastic coatings painted on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. They quickly harden to form a powerful shield that prevents tooth decay, and can last for up to 10 years. Children should get sealants on their permanent molars as soon as teeth come in. It’s a simple and painless process that takes place in the dental office. School-age children without sealants have almost 3x more cavities than children with sealants according to the ADA. Ask your dentist about sealants at your next visit!

At Great Hill Dental Partners, our goal is to provide you with the experience and quality of care that we would want for our own families.

EVENING & WEEKEND

We’re open evenings and weekends to accommodate your busy life. Call or request online.

WHOLE HEALTH DENTISTRY

We know oral health is directly related to your overall health and we provide the best in overall health care for our patients.

MULTI-SPECIALTY OFFICE

We offer a full range of general, cosmetic, and specialty services under one roof.

Insurance & Financing

We accept most dental insurances (note: at this time, we do not accept Mass. Health), as well as provide a number of easy-payment options to help make your care affordable. PLUS, since Great Hill Dental offers “one stop dentistry”, you can manage your costs through just one billing location, regardless of whatever treatment you may require.

In-Network Dental Plans

  • Delta Dental of Mass: Premier and PPO
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield Dental Blue: Indemnity and PPO
  • Altus: All
  • Cigna: PPO
  • Aetna: PPO
  • Assurant: PPO/DHA
  • United Concordia: PPO/DHA
  • Principal: All
  • Metlife
  • Guardian
  • United Healthcare

Essential Dental Plan

Great Hill Dental accepts Essential Dental Plan which allows members to receive the dental care they need at the savings they can afford. Get instant access to significant savings on all dental services plus free exams and x-rays. Choose individual, two-individual, or family coverage and enjoy peace of mind knowing you can maintain your oral health. The Essential Dental Plan is not insurance.


Smile Now, Pay Over Time

Great Hill Dental Braintree partners with Sunbit, a new way to get the treatment you need and pay over time. Sunbit offers patients a way to split their bill into monthly payments up to 72 months.

  • No Hard Credit Check
  • No Late Fees and Penalties
  • See your options in 30-seconds

Care Credit

Care Credit is a third-party healthcare credit card that helps finance healthcare related costs. Care Credit extends special financing options that you can’t get when using your Visa or MasterCard. Whether you use your healthcare credit card to cover your deductible, or to pay for treatments and procedures not covered by insurance, CareCredit helps make them possible today.

New Patients are Always Welcome at our Practice!

Please feel free to call us or email us if you have any questions or wish to book an appointment.

Phone: 
(781) 848-4041

Email:
braintreeinfo@greathilldental.com

Address:
100 Grossman Drive,
Suite 210
Braintree, MA 02184-4997

Hours:
Mon: 8am-5pm
Tues: 8am-7pm
Wed: 8am-7pm
Thurs: 7:30am-5pm
Fri: 7:30am – 4pm
Sat: 8am-2pm

Great Hill Dental Locations

BOSTON

1610 Tremont St., Boston MA 02120
One Brigham Circle on the Green E Line
Phone: (617) 713-3701

SOMERVILLE

20 Holland Street Suite #400, Somerville, MA 02144-2705
Phone: (617) 764-3440

PEABODY

39 Cross St. Suite 307, Peabody, MA 01960
Phone: (978) 717-5819

BRAINTREE

100 Grossman Drive, Suite 210, Braintree, MA 02184-4997
Phone: (781) 848-4041

CHELMSFORD

122 Chelmsford St., Chelmsford, MA 01824-3604
Phone: (978) 244-0629