Sponsored by the American Dental Association, February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. The month offers an opportunity to bring awareness to the children’s oral hygiene, tooth decay and promote good habits and practices to prevent it.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention About 20% of children aged 5 to 11 years and 13% of adolescents aged 12 to 19 years have at least one untreated decayed tooth.
Untreated cavities can cause pain and infections that may lead to problems with eating, speaking, playing, and learning. According to statistics at the CDC, children who have poor oral health often miss more school and receive lower grades than children who don’t.
Sheridan County Public Health dental hygienists Sherrie Hotchkiss and Janet Berry appeared on Sheridan Media’ Public Pulse program to raise awareness and inform parents that it is recommended to get children into the dentist as early as 1 year old.
J. Berry
By taking the proactive approach to dental hygiene at an early age, decay has a much lower chance to begin and lead to bigger problems in the future.
S. Hotchkiss
Among other activities this month Sheridan County Public Health will distribute toothbrushes and floss to all Sheridan County elementary students, Head Start, Child Development Center, WIC, Tongue River Child’s Place and the YMCA.
All of these events have been made possible through the support of the B.F. and Rose H. Perkins Foundation and the Chandler and Mercedes K. Kibbee Foundation.
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Last modified: February 1, 2022