AAP Children's Health Topics: ORAL HEALTH

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AAP Children's Health Topics: ORAL HEALTH

American Academy of Pediatrics
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Dental caries is the most common chronic disease affecting children in the United States. It is 5 times more common than asthma and 7 times more common than hay fever. Despite advances in oral health, dental and oral diseases continue to plague children. Factors contributing to an oral health decline include lack of access to care, inadequate availability of preventive measures such as water fluoridation and dental sealants, and lack of knowledge of the importance of oral health.

Pediatricians and other child health professionals can have a major impact on oral health outcomes for children because of the opportunities provided by early intervention such as counseling families, identifying high-risk children, initiating timely dental referrals, and administration of appropriate fluoride modalities.

The AAP has oral-care tips for professionals, parents and children.

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