Pennsylvania Key’s Provides Information and Tips on Dental Care for Children
Children miss about 34 million school hours annually due to dental problems and unplanned dental care, according to The Pennsylvania Key, which focused on dental health for its February health trends report.
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According to The Pennsylvania Key’s health trends report, tooth decay is more common than asthma, and about 50% of children between the ages of 2 and 19 have had cavities.
Children from low-income families have more untreated cavities due to:
Lack of resources to pay for care
Lack of transportation to a clinic
Inability to get time off from work
Physical disability or other illness
As a result, children with tooth decay suffer from difficulty eating, poor nutrition, delayed physical development, and poor self image and socialization.
Although largely preventable, if untreated tooth decay can lead to pain, inflammation, and the spread of infection to bone and soft tissue. Untreated cavities can cause brain abscesses, which require hospitalization.
According to The Pennsylvania Key’s report, pregnant women and children experiencing homelessness are most vulnerable to poor oral health. Children experiencing homelessness are more likely to live with chronic diseases, behavioral health concerns, developmental delays, hunger, and malnutrition.
Some tips for caregivers to take for young children’s dental health include:
Do not put a baby to bed with a bottle at night or at naptime, and do not let a baby use a bottle field with a sweet drink.
Limit frequent snacking and sugary beverages for children.
Encourage supervised brushing with fluoride toothpaste - and make sure they brush thoroughly twice per day for two minutes.
For more information, read The Pennsylvania Key’s Dental Health Matters: Health Trends in Early Childhood Education.