Make Sure Your Child Has a Healthy Mouth.
By Emile C. Commedore, MD, JD
Director of the Office of Minority Health within the Florida Department of Health. Sources: FL Div. of Oral Health, National Center of Chronic Disease Prevention CDC NHANES III, AHRQ/MEPS analysis
Posted: 4:49p.m .est, April 19, 2008

 

 

There a few things more delightful than a child’s smile. Nevertheless, tooth decay is the single most common chronic childhood disease. Each year, more than 51 million school hours are lost because of dental-related illness. For instance, more than half of all children aged 5-9 have had at least one filling.

 

Unfortunately, children that belong to racial and ethnic minority groups are disproportionately affected. Latino preschoolers, the fastest growing child population in the US, experience 2.5 times more tooth decay than white children. Likewise, African-American children have 1.5 times more tooth decay and Native Americans have 5.8 times more tooth decay than white children. Because of this disparity, oral health is the focus of this year’s Minority Health Month.

A huge factor behind increased tooth decay in minority children is access to dental services. White preschoolers are more likely to have a dental visit than minority children and twice as likely to receive preventive services, such as fillings or sealants. Consequently, untreated tooth decay among 6 to 8 year olds is found in over 70% of Native American and Asian children, almost half of Mexican –American kids and about a third of Black children. Only 1 in 5 white children have untreated tooth decay.

 

Children from families without dental insurance are more likely than insured children to have unmet dental needs. If uninsured, first contact the county health department or nearest Federally Qualified Health Center to see if they provide dental care. Also, depending on your income, your child may qualify for the KidCare medical and dental program. Go to http://floridakidcare.org for more information. Some dental schools also provide free care.

 

Besides regular dental check-ups, there are a number of ways that you can help your child prevent tooth decay, as follows:

 

·	train your child to rinse their mouth with water after meals, which leaves their teeth free of sugar and acid.
·	limit bottled juices, sweet drinks and other foods with high sugar content
·	have your child brush with fluoride toothpaste twice a day and floss once a day
·	supervise brushing and flossing, until they can do it correctly
·	drink fluorinated water, even if you buy bottled water.

 

In short, it is important for parents of minority children to understand that tooth decay is preventable. Because dental problems often start early, the sooner a child visits a dentist the better. The ideal time is six months after your child’s primary teeth erupt. Many communities have resources available to assist parents who are uninsured. Finally, by instilling their children with good dental habits, parents can help their child maintain a healthy smile.

________________________ Related Oral Cancer: Serious Health Threat to Minority Men   By Emile C. Commedore, MD, JD Director of the Office of Minority Health within the Florida Department of Health. Sources: FL Div. of Oral Health, National Center of Chronic Disease Prevention CDC NHANES III, AHRQ/MEPS analysis   ________________________