Why Children's Oral Health is Important. 

The Surgeon General has reported that oral health is a critical and unmet child health issue. The health and development of children's mouths and teeth are as important as any other part of their body, affecting how children feel and behave, and how they will develop into young adults. Untreated tooth decay can lead to inadequate nutrition and speech problems.

Poor oral health of children has been related to poor performance in school, poor social relationships and less success later in life.

If children are sitting in school feeling pain, it distracts them from concentrating on school work. Low and moderate income children miss an average of 13 days a year of school due to untreated dental problems.

In Washington State, one in seven low-income children has unmet dental needs. That's almost 50% higher than the national rate.

Tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease in America. It affects half of all first graders and 80% of seventeen-year-olds.

Forty percent of employees in our state have no dental coverage.

Adams County Health Department offers the following suggestions for a healthy mouth for your child:

• Insist children brush at least twice and floss once every day. Wipe your infant's teeth with a soft washcloth twice daily.
• Don't let infants fall asleep with a bottle of milk, juice or pop in their mouth. This can cause devastating decay, also known as baby bottle tooth decay.
• Drink fluoridated water. If you don't have access to fluoridated water, ask your dentist about other sources of fluoride.
• Offer your children nutritious snacks such as cheese, vegetables, yogurt and milk to build strong teeth.
• Have children swish their mouths with water after lunch at school or better yet, encourage them to bring a toothbrush to school.
• Arrange regular dental checkups starting in the first year of life, shortly after the first tooth emerges.  

Adams County Health Department is working to improve children's oral health by offering education regarding this disease and fluoride varnish to children under age 18. If you have any questions regarding our services, please contact Callie Moore at 659-3317 or learn more at www.KIDSORALHEALTHWATCH.org.