Did you know pediatric dental disease is 5 times more common than asthma and 7 times more common than hay fever?
Left untreated, pediatric dental disease can lead to malnourished, bacterial infections, required emergency surgery, and even death. Dental disease has been linked to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, pneumonia, poor pregnancy outcomes, and dementia.
See how we can all help America’s Toothfairy® and the National Children’s Oral Health Foundation Git R Done when it comes to optimal oral health.
According to the Academy of General Dentistry, more than 51 million school hours are lost each year due to dental-related illnesses. Despite these numbers, many children still do not visit the dentist.
In addition, almost 50 percent of tooth decay remains untreated in low-income children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Regular examinations can seem expensive to people without dental insurance, and many children are without dental coverage.
The Surgeon General’s office reports that for every child without medical insurance there are 2.6 children lacking dental insurance.
These resources are available to help the parents of children in need of dental care:
Federally sponsored programs:
http://cms.hhs.gov/ – Medicaid
State assisted programs:
http://www.insurekidsnow.gov – State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)
http://ask.hrsa.gov/pc
Dental schools are another option for the uninsured – soon to be dentists (dental students) do the work at a steeply discounted rate, all under the watchful eyes of experienced faculty.
The most important thing to remember?
Kids tooth decay is 100% preventable!
Now go share this kid’s dental health info with someone that needs it.
