Liberty, NY – February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, and the Sullivan County Rural Health Network and Sullivan County Public Health Services would like to emphasize the need for parents and caregivers to ensure the health of their children’s oral health.
“Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease found in children. Each year, more than 51 million school hours are lost due to dental-related problems,” notes Public Health Director Nancy McGraw. “Fortunately, with good oral health care habits, tooth decay can be prevented.”
According to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 18 percent of children ages two to four have experienced tooth decay, and nearly one out of six have untreated tooth decay. By age 17, more than seven percent of children have lost at least one permanent tooth due to decay.
According to a Sullivan County Rural Health Network’s Oral Health Needs Assessment in 2016, the most frequent oral health issue that school nurses observed among the students was dental cavities and pain. Almost 65% of the nurses surveyed said they had seen a student miss school due to dental problems. The pandemic also contributed to many children not receiving regular dental care during the past two years.
Here are some things you can do to ensure good oral health for your child:
• Encourage your children to eat regular nutritious meals and avoid frequent between-meal snacking.
• Use a fluoride toothpaste. If your child is less than 7 years old, put only a pea-sized amount on their toothbrush.
• If your drinking water is not fluoridated, talk to a dentist or physician about the best way to protect your child’s teeth.
• Just like adults, children should see the dentist at least every 6 months
• Do not put sugary drinks in your baby’s bottle or put them to bed with a bottle. This contributes to tooth decay and bacteria in the child’s mouth.
• If you are pregnant, seek early prenatal care, eat a healthy diet and visit a dentist during your pregnancy to limit dental problems.
In Sullivan County, there are two organizations which serve underrepresented communities.
The PRASAD Children’s Dental Health Program, an Article 28 mobile dental clinic and school-based health center (SBHC), conveniently visits County schools and is able to provide dental health education, preventive and restorative dental services without parents needing to take time off from work or to drive anywhere. PRASAD also has an office on Sullivan Avenue in Liberty and English-Spanish bilingual staff. https://www.prasadcdhp.org/
Sun River Healthcare, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) on Lakewood Avenue in Monticello, includes a dental clinic and will accept people of all ages regardless of ability to pay. Sun River has a robust Spanish-English bilingual staff. https://www.sunriver.org/services/dental-care/
