Two Rivers Public Health: Children's Dental Health Month

KEARNEY, Neb. — Roxanne Denny-Mickey, Clinical Outreach Coordinator, Dental Program Manager joins Sara Kirkley in the studio to discuss topics related to Children's Dental Health month.

Dental health facts for Children's Dental Health Month

Cavities are surprisingly common in children: 5x more common than asthma, 7x more common than hay fever, and also more common than type 2 diabetes and obesity. #1 chronic health disease in children.

• Many cavities go untreated. A study by the CDC reports that approximately 42% of children ages 2-11 have untreated cavities. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, more than 50 percent of children will be affected by tooth decay before age five.
• Oral and dental disease effects the mouth and WHOLE body health. The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools reports that 51 million school hours are lost each year due to dental-related issues.
• Invest in preventative dental care; for every dollar spent on preventative dental care could save you up to $50 in restorative and emergency dental treatments and potentially more in additional types of medical treatment. A child should see a dentist when their first tooth appears, or by his or her first birthday.
• Help keep your child’s teeth healthy by using the 2-2-2 rule: have a dental check-up TWO times a year, and brush and clean in-between teeth TWO times a day for TWO whole minutes!
• Over 80% of the cavities children get are on the chewing surface of their teeth. Dental sealants help to protect against these cavities, but only 18.5% of children have at least one sealed permanent tooth.
• Xylitol is a natural sweetener that reduces oral bacteria. Research has shown that a mom who utilizes xylitol 2 to 3 x’s a day in the first 3 to 15 months of their child’s life will reduce their cavity risk by 74%.

For more information call Two Rivers Public Health Department at (308) 995-4778 or 1-888-669-7154 and visit our website www.trphd.org for more information.

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