February Focus: Prevention
The most common condition among children is largely preventable. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), dental caries are 4 times more common than childhood asthma and 3 times more likely than childhood obesity. NCDHM offers an opportunity to spread the word about how poor oral health and caries impact kids’ health and quality of life.
February Events & Content
RECORDED WEBINAR: Inclusive Dental: Build a Team & Practice for Neurodiversity
Recorded February 5, 2025
1.5 CE
Presented by: Courtney Thompson, PhD, BCBA-D, LBA
Enhance your practice with essential skills for caring for those with special needs. Learn about common disabilities, effective oral health strategies, and creating sensory-friendly environments that empower both your team and those in your care.
RECORDED WEBINAR: Abuse, Neglect and Trafficking: Our Responsibility
Recorded February 21, 2024
1.5 CE • Free for ADHA Members
Presented by: Denise M. Messina, MDH, BS, RDH & Bridget M. Wright, MACPR, BSDH, EFDA
Learn to recognize physical, behavioral, and emotional signs of child and elder abuse or neglect. By understanding how to identify and support survivors, you can make a vital difference in their lives.
ACCESS THE RECORDING
Share these videos from the Iowa Dept. of Health and Human Services
Join Lucy and her friends and learn to brush – every day!
Join Lucy and her friends and learn to floss – every day!
Join Lucy and her friends to learn how to prevent cavities!
4-Minute Reads
Caries Prevention and Risk Management in Children
Hygienist Hub | By Lisa Kamibayashi | Feb. 8, 2024 | Sponsored by Colgate®
A wide variety of fluoride options on the market can leave you wondering and comparing these preventive treatment – and they’re not all the same. Here’s guidance on selecting the right fluoride for children.
Importance of Educating Family in Promoting Children’s Oral Health
Journal of Dental Hygiene editorial by Denise C. McKinney and Melissa Sullivan| Feb. 12, 2024
Oral health practices we use to educate children, along with literacy, family structure, and community level, impact the promotion of positive oral health practices in children and families.
Caregivers’ Comprehension of the Terms Decay and Cavities
Journal of Dental Hygiene | , , and | Dec. 2021
Caregivers of young children often lack understanding of dental terms, highlighting the need for better oral health education from dental professionals to ensure proper preventive care at home.
Oral and Dental Aspects of Child Abuse and Neglect
Hygienist Hub | By JoAnn Gurenlian | May 29, 2024
Child abuse affects one in seven U.S. children, with various oral manifestations – healthcare providers must recognize signs of physical abuse, neglect, trafficking, and bullying, requiring mandatory reporting and intervention.
Helpful Downloads to Share 📋
- Establishing a Bedtime Routine (with Brushing!) for Your Child
- Encouraging Children to Drink Water
- What are Dental Sealants and Why Should Kids Get Them?
- Helping Children Quit the Pacifier
- Dental Care for Children with Special Needs (CMS): English | Spanish
Volunteer Opportunity!
Join ADHA, the IOH Foundation and Colgate’s BSBF program in a month-long volunteer drive to improve the oral health of under-served children. Find local opportunities to sign up, volunteer your experience, and support dental hygienists driving change, everywhere!
Get the Parents’ Guide
To support your oral health education, we created a quick-reference guide for download. Post it on your practice website, email it as an appointment follow up, or print and use it to support your conversations.
Make Your Outreach Work
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has developed oral health education materials to help expectant mothers and parents of young children learn about developing positive oral health habits early. You too, can amplify the importance of oral health by displaying, sharing and distributing informational materials!
Tooth decay is the most common preventable chronic disease among U.S. children
If left untreated, it can negatively affect a child’s physical and social development, as well as their school performance.
In 2010, the CMS launched an Oral Health Initiative to help states ensure that children enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP have easy access to dental and oral health services.
LEARN ABOUT DENTAL BENEFITS FOR CHILDREN IN MEDICAID AND CHIP
FIND YOUR STATE’S COMPLETE LIST OF BENEFITS FOR CHILDREN IN MEDICAID AND CHIP
In their State of Little Teeth Report, 2nd Edition, AAPD examined the epidemic of tooth decay among children. Read the report for helpful information and rich data, including:
- Nearly one in five children under the age of 5 has experienced dental decay.
- Nearly half of children aged 6–11 in the U.S. population are affected by tooth decay, along with more than half of those aged 12–19.
- Children aged 2–9 living in poverty are twice as likely to suffer tooth decay as their more affluent peers.
- Children in the U.S. miss over 34 million school hours each year due to dental problems.
- After eight years of follow up, children who had their first dental visit before the age of four spent an average of $360 less on dental treatment than those who did not.