February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, and Children’s Aid dentist Scott Levy has some tips to ensure a healthy smile.

A dentist at our Bronx Health Center, he serves patients ranging from 1 to 20 years old. The secret to a healthy smile, according to Dr. Levy, is pretty simple – brushing, flossing, and dental checkups twice a year.

“They need to make brushing their teeth part of their everyday routine,” he said. “I always stress not just the frequency, but the proper technique in brushing.”

Children often don’t brush the entire surface of each tooth, so Dr. Levy reinforces the proper technique. It’s important for parents of young children – those who are just watching their first teeth come in – to demonstrate that brushing is a natural part of one’s day.

“I always urge the parents to incorporate it in the daily routine, regardless of age, the frequency of brushing, so the child will always know, ‘Oh, this is what we do,’” he said. “Every morning we wake up and we brush our teeth.”

At the height of the pandemic, our health centers were closed, and Dr. Levy was only performing emergency services. Some clients had not received routine dental care in more than a year by the time they came to his office in 2021.

“If they were not doing a great job in general, the buildup of plaque was more significant because of the length of time in between cleanings,” he said. “When people started to come back, we made sure they had proper checkup dental X-rays, dental exams, dental cleanings, and of course, always reviewing proper brushing technique.”

Dr. Levy recommends that patients brush their teeth three times a day and floss twice a day. He knows it can be a challenging habit to remember, and that flossing even once a day can make a big difference since a toothbrush cannot clean hard to reach places.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, nearly 50 percent of children under 12 have some form of tooth decay, making it one of the most common childhood diseases. Teaching children the importance of brushing and flossing can set them up for good oral health and reduce the chances of gum disease, cavities, and tooth decay.

Learn more about our dental services and where to access them.