Why are healthy baby teeth important?
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Here are some startling statistics about the prevalence of tooth decay in our children:
- 24% of children ages 2–5 have tooth decay
- Children ages 2–5 from families with low incomes are more likely to have tooth decay than children from families with higher incomes
- 53% of children ages 2–8 have tooth decay
- 5 times more common than asthma
- 7 times more common than hay fever
- 4 times more common than childhood obesity
Nationwide, thousands of young children are put on waiting lists so that they can receive extensive dental care under general anesthesia. These surgeries cause physical and emotional stress as well as putting unnecessary financial burden on families and government health care funds.
Oral disease puts children at risk for pain and infection throughout their bodies, increasing hospitalizations and at times, tragically, leading to death. Children with untreated cavities often lose the ability to eat nutritious foods, concentrate, learn, socialize, and have a healthy self-esteem.
The goods news is that cavities are almost 100% preventable.
Helpful Resources
The best way to keep children cavity free is to begin early by educating pregnant women and families of very young children about ways to have good oral health. Here are some resources that might help:
- Oral Health Kansas Tips & Tricks:
– Ages 1-3 & Ages 1-3-Spanish
– Baby's 1st Year & Baby's 1st Year-Spanish
– Baby Bottle Tooth Decay & Baby Bottle Tooth Decay-Spanish
– Daily Dental Care - Infants & Toddlers & Daily Dental Care - Infants & Toddlers-Spanish
– Dental First Aid & Dental First Aid-Spanish
– Dental First Aid Kit & Dental First Aid Kit-Spanish
– DO's & DO's-Spanish
– Fluoride & Fluoride-Spanish
– Teething & Teething-Spanish
– Thumb Sucking & Thumb Sucking-Spanish
- Smiles for Life: A national oral health curriculum.
Module 2: Child Oral Health - Cavity Free at Three
Parent Oral Health Education Materials in Multiple Languages. Visit their website, www.cavityfreeatthree.org. - American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
Guideline on Infant Oral Care - Learning Fact Sheet
National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center – Oral Health and Learning
This fact sheet shares evidence based information about the link between good oral health and academic success. - Fluoride in toothpaste
American Academy of Pediatrics – Healthy Children FAQ - Fluoride and children - Weaning
American Academy of Pediatrics – Healthy Children Ages & Stages-Discontinuing the Bottle - Breastfeeding
American Academy of Pediatrics – Healthy Children After Your Baby Gets Teeth - Thumbsucking
– American Dental Association – Thumbsucking & Pacifier Use: Recommendations for Nonnutritive Sucking Habits
– Mayo Clinic Breaking the Habit – Thumbsucking: Help your child break the habit - Picture puzzle
– Here is a fun interactive way to learn about bacteria in our mouths. Click here to download the Picture Puzzle in both English and Spanish. Here is another Picture Puzzle in English and Spanish to find objects to prepare for baby's first dental visit. - Check out the BRUSH, BOOK, BED article
Kids Love Routines! Here is a fun and easy idea from the American Academy of Pediatrics to structure your child’s nighttime routine with BRUSH, BOOK, BED!
Other Sites With Quality Oral Health Materials
Kansas Head Start Association
Fast Facts - Oral Health Library
Colorful, issue specific oral health fliers focused on pregnancy and early childhood. 13 topics- bilingual
WIC staff in Kansas? Order Fast Facts for free on WIC Publications Order Form
*If you are a government agency or non profit in Kansas,please contact khunt@ksheadstart.org to see if you are eligible for free or reduced rates.
Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center - Head Start
- Healthy Habits for Happy Smiles
A series of handouts provides simple tips on oral health issues. - Cook’s corner: Recipes for Healthy Snacks
Sesame Street Healthy Teeth, Healthy Me
Songs, printables and games designed to help you and your child care for teeth together
National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center – www.mchoralhealth.org
What Every Mom Ought to Know About Fluoride – https://fluorideexposed.org/fluoride-facts-every-mom-ought-to-know
Fluoride Exposed is an online evidence-based resource about fluoride and the safety and effectiveness of community water fluoridation.
Videos
University of North Carolina School of Global Public Health – Short videos on variety of topics including toothbrushing.
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