February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. If you have a baby or toddler, you may have questions about thumb sucking, your child’s first dental visit or how and when to clean your child’s teeth. If so, the University of Washington Center for Pediatric Dentistry invites you to visit www.thecenterforpediatricdentistry.com to find tips for helping keep children’s teeth healthy.

Parents can learn about when children should have their first dental visit, ways to prevent early childhood caries, when to expect changes from primary to permanent teeth, proper brushing and flossing techniques, thumbsucking, dental sealants, choosing the right mouth protector for active children and adolescents, and teaching their children to say no to tobacco. Parents will also learn about the importance of regular dental examinations.

“Children’s teeth are meant to last a lifetime, and a healthy smile is important to a child’s self-esteem. With proper care, a balanced diet and regular dental visits, their teeth can remain healthy and strong,” said Dr. Rebecca Slayton, DDS, Chair of the Center for Pediatric Dentistry.

The University of Washington Center for Pediatric Dentistry provides dental health services to children ages 1-18, and through age 20 if the child has special needs such as autism or Down syndrome. “Every child deserves the opportunity to have a healthy smile, and we welcome children enrolled in Apple Health,” Slayton said.

Located at Magnuson Park, 6222 N.E. 74th St., in Seattle, the Center for Pediatric Dentistry serves children from throughout Washington state. The state-of-the-art facility offers the complete range of dental services, from examinations to full sedation/dental surgery.

Current dental guidelines recommend that a child begin seeing a dentist at the time of the first tooth or first birthday, whichever comes first, and then twice a year. The Center for Pediatric Dentistry has staff available to help parents with insurance issues, to help arrange interpretation/translation services in 120 languages, and to help arrange transportation.

You visit the website or call 206-543-5800 for more information.