Why Good Oral Health is Important
Innumerable studies and research have concluded on the importance of
starting children early in their lives with good dental hygiene and
oral care. According to research, the most common chronic childhood
disease in America is tooth decay, affecting 50% of first-graders and
80% of 17-year-olds. Early treatment prevents problems affecting a
child’s health, well-being, self-image and overall achievement.
The National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research
estimates that children will miss 52 million hours of school each year
due to oral health problems and about 12.5 million days of restricted
activity every year from dental symptoms. Because there is such a
significant loss in their academic performance, the Surgeon General has
made children’s oral health a priority.