Good oral health can be a challenge for young children, especially those in low-income families. Children in such families tend to have higher rates of tooth decay and have greater difficulty accessing ongoing basic dental care. Every child, despite their family’s economic situation, deserves a healthy smile!
Over 40-50% of children will be affected by tooth decay before age 5 and of the 4 million children born each year, more than half will have cavities by the time they reach second grade (AAPD.org). These statistics are overwhelming!
In addition, 9 million children in the United States do not have medical insurance, but over 23 million do not have dental insurance (AAPD.org)! Oral health issues affect children in poverty and minorities far more than other groups. Unfortunately, this isn’t shocking.
It’s not just poverty stricken and minority families that have children with dental problems. According to the May 2000 Surgeon General’s report, Oral Health in America, more than 51 million school hours are lost each year to dental-related conditions (AAPD.org).
Don’t let your children suffer from oral health issues. Bad oral health could lead to time away from the classroom and extracurricular activities which help children grow mentally and emotionally.