Many parents don’t know that children should visit the dentist within six months of getting the first tooth – and no later than the first birthday. In fact, Illinois children don’t visit the dentist, on average, until they are 3 ½ years old.
A visit by age 1 allows you and your child to develop a relationship with a dentist, which can help set a foundation for good oral health and detect potential dental problems before they progress. Your little one could have pain in one of his or her teeth, but may be too young to tell you.
The Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation is kicking off “Dentist by 1,” a statewide public service campaign to educate parents about the benefits of taking their children to the dentist by age 1 and to encourage them to schedule a visit.
In conjunction with the campaign, the Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation is offering one of my readers an electric toothbrush ($160 value) to help promote good oral health! (Open to Illinois residents only).
To enter, tell me about your child’s first trip to the dentist or something funny about their oral health care habits in the comments under this article. This Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation “Dentist by 1” Electric Toothbrush giveaway begins today and ends on Wednesday, May 9,2012.
For additional entries:
- “Like” Delta Dental of Illinois on Facebook and tell me in the comments below.
- Pledge to take your kids to the dentist by age 1 or to regular visits atwww.dentistby1.com and tell me in the comments below. When you pledge, Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation will donate an oral health kit to a local, underprivileged child and will also send you a kit! (Kits include a toothbrush, floss, toothpaste and a children’s oral health tip sheet.)
For more information about the importance of visiting the dentist by age 1 and tips on establishing good oral health habits for a lifetime of healthy smiles, visit www.Dentistby1.com.
About Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation
The Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation (DDILF) was formed in March 2008 by Delta Dental of Illinois (DDIL), a not-for-profit dental service corporation with a mission to improve the oral health of the communities it serves. DDILF is the charitable arm of DDIL and works to support and improve the oral health of people in Illinois. In the past decade, combined efforts of DDIL and DDILF have provided more than $2 million to programs and organizations that provide oral health education and expand access to oral health care for Illinois residents. DDIL provides dental benefit programs to individuals and more than 5,000 employee groups throughout Illinois and covers two million employees and family members nationwide. DDIL and DDILF are based in Naperville, Illinois.
Disclosure: A free toothbrush has been provided by Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation for this giveaway.
My kids have always down so well at the dentist – they sit right down – open wide and stay put until they are told to get up!! Yeah!
I liked them on facebook (teresa tiarastantrums)
I do take my kiddos to the dentist every six months and to the ortho once a month!