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11 | O akville B eaver | T hursday,M arch 31,2022 insidehalton.com Visiting the dentist at an early age teaches little ones that the dental office and everyone there can be friendly and even fun, says Dr. Vineet Bhandari of Bhandari Dental in Oakville. "Of course, a positive start will lead to a lifetime of healthy oral habits, and that's important for everyone." The local dentist offers these tips to give babies a good start. 1.Cleanorgentlybrushaninfant'sgums even before teeth emerge. Use a warm wet washcloth or a baby toothbrush with water or non-fluoridated infant toothpaste and rub it gently over the gums. Once the first tooth comes in (at from 3 to 15 months of age), continue to clean the entire mouth. 2. Avoid "baby bottle cavities". "A child should not go to bed with a bottle filled with milk, formula, breast milk, fruit juice or any other liquid other than plainwater. The simple carbohydrate content of these beverages can cause baby bottle cavities." Bhandari recommends feedingwell before bedtime and cleaning teeth and gums before bedtime. 3. Introduce the child to the dentist at a young age. That first important visit to the dentist should happen once the first tooth has come in or at the first birthday, whichever comes first. "At the first visit the teeth are examined as well as the relationship of the jaw bones, the palate, lymph nodes, salivary glands, tongue, facial muscles and how the teeth fit together." 4. Choose a child-friendly dentist. Talk to your dental office about how they handle appointments with children. For example, the Bhandari Dental team uses a hands-on method to teach good oral hygiene. In-office appointments are easy and relaxed, explains Bhandari, and the office sometimes holds special events as well that introduce children to the office in a fun positive way. 5. Protect teeth with fluoride. Fluoride mineralizes teeth and makes them hard and resistant to cavities. "Fluoride is in the tap water in many areas. But it's important to have a discussion with your dentist when an infant's teeth first erupt for guidance about whetherfluoride supplements arenecessary." 6. Always set a good example. Parents can encourage children to take care of teeth by having them watch as they brush and floss. "Help young children to brush and floss until they're about six years old," advises Bhandari. Seeing the dentist from an early age will help make proper teeth and gum care a lifelong habit. For more information, contact Bhandari Dental. How to introduce Baby to the dentist -- ADVERTORIAL --NICE TO MEET YOU Dr. Vineet Bhandari dentist 2525 Old Bronte Rd. Ste. 470 Oakville 289-813-8239 www.bhandaridental.comwww.concretetrimmings.com CONCRETE FREE ESTIMATES 905-844-5518 1-888-944-5518 uality At Its Best! Call Fernando 1-888-944-5518 www 1-888-944-5518 • DRIVEWAYS • FRENCH CURBS • PATIOS • STEPS • WALKWAYS • GARAGE FLOORS ExposEd aggrEgatE (pebble) Oakville Mayor Rob Burton has ended Oakville's Declaration of Emergency, stating it is no longer necessary. The local state of emergency was de- clared by the town in response to the CO- VID-19 outbreak on March 24, 2020. The declaration was intended to show residents just how serious the situation was and support public health officials' efforts to slow the spread of the virus. The town's Emergency Operations Plan saw the closing of municipal parks and facilities and the cancelling of pro- grams. The majority of these programs and facilities have since reopened. "A state of emergency for the town is no longer necessary as the province con- tinues on its reopening path and key pub- lic health indicators are showing im- provement, or remaining stable in Oak- ville and across Ontario," said Burton. "The next little while will be a transi- tion period for our community and as we make more progress, I encourage resi- dents to remain kind, considerate and re- spectful of each other." The province recently announced it is removing the mandatory masking re- quirement in most settings on March 21. Regional council is expected to make a decision on repealing the Regional Mask bylaw during a special meeting on March 19. Town staff said that as the province continues to reopen and key public health indicators continue to improve or remain stable, the town will remain in line with provincial and regional direc- tion and regulations. Updates can be found at https:// www.oakville.ca/townhall/co- vid-19.html. Residents are also reminded to contin- ue following public health guidance by: • getting fully vaccinated • staying home when sick • washing or sanitizing your hands fre- quently. NEWS TOWN LIFTS COVID STATE OF EMERGENCY "A state of emergency for the town is no longer necessary as the province continues on its reopening path and key public health indicators are showing improvement or remaining stable in Oakville and across Ontario." - Oakville Mayor Rob Burton