First visit at early age sets pattern for care

And it’s just one new line of attack on a somewhat surprising problem: Despite widespread water fluoridation and advances in dental care, cavities were more common among young children in the early 2000s than they were a decade earlier, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

From The USA Today

From the Washington Post, a great article about thumb-sucking.

Strategies for helping your child break the thumb-sucking habit

Every year, children in America miss millions of hours of school because of tooth decay.

“The “silent epidemic,” which is what the U.S. Surgeon General’s 2000 report on the nation’s oral health called it, says tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease, five times more common than asthma and seven times more common than hay fever.”

“Kids’ Dental Decay Takes a Bite out of School Attendance”, New America Media

According to the AAPD, it is very important to keep primary teeth in place until they are lost naturally. “Baby” teeth:
· Help children chew properly to maintain good nutrition.
· Are involved in speech development.
· Help save space for permanent teeth.
· Promote a healthy smile that helps children feel good about the way they look.

RDH Magazine

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