Surprising Facts About Children’s Dental Health

Happy National Children’s Dental Health Month!

Every February, the American Dental Association sponsors National Children’s Dental Health Month to build awareness about the importance of good dental care for kids. In honor of this cause, we wanted to share some surprising facts to drive home just how important it is!

• American students miss 51 million hours of school every year because of oral health problems.
• More than 50 percent of children will be affected by tooth decay before age 5.
• Every dollar spent on preventative dental care early on could save $8 to $50 in restorative and emergency dental treatments later in life.
• Tooth decay affects children in the United States more than any other chronic infectious disease.
• Pediatric dental disease can lead to many other problems including malnourishment and bacterial infections, which can become serious if untreated.

Teaching dental health to kids now can save you a lot of time, money, and dentist appointments in the long run. You can start by creating morning and nighttime routines for your kids so they brush and floss at least twice a day. Also, be sure that they see the dentist at least once per year. If you have trouble getting kids to take care of their teeth, talk to your dentist. They will be happy to give you advice.

Sources:

• Surgeon General
• American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
• American Dental Hygienists Association
• CDC
• http://www.ncohf.org/
• http://www.ada.org/en/public-programs/national-childrens-dental-health-month/