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Resource Library
Fact Sheet
 From the Office
of the Surgeon General,
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
May 2000
Children's Oral Health
Back to Fact Sheets and FAQs
The oral health of children has improved
significantly over the past few decades. Today most American children enjoy
excellent oral health, but a significant subset suffers a high level of oral disease. The most advanced disease is found primarily among children living in poverty, some racial/ethnic minority populations, disabled children, and children with HIV infection. We know enough about health promotion and disease prevention measures to
improve the oral health and well-being of all children. Tooth decay remains one of the most
common diseases of childhood – 5 times as common as asthma and 7 times as common as hay fever. More than half of children aged 5-9 have had at least one cavity or filling; 78 percent of 17-year-olds have experienced tooth
decay. By age 17, more than 7 percent of children have lost at least one permanent tooth to decay. Each year, 8,000 babies are born with cleft lip and/or cleft palate, making these
among the most common birth defects. Cleft lip and cleft palate interfere with
normal appearance, eating, and speech. Injuries to children, intentional and
non-intentional, often involve trauma to the head, neck, and mouth. The leading causes of oral and head injuries are sports, violence, falls, and motor vehicle crashes. Tobacco-related oral lesions are common
in teenagers who use spit (smokeless) tobacco. The lesions occur in 35 percent
of snuff users and 20 percent of chewing tobacco users. One in four American children are born into poverty (annual income of $17,000
or less for a family of four). Children and adolescents living in poverty suffer
twice as much tooth decay as their more affluent peers, and their disease is more
likely to go untreated. Children from families without medical
insurance are 2.5 times less likely than insured children to receive dental care. Children from families without dental
insurance are 3 times more likely than insured children to have unmet dental needs. For every child without medical insurance, there are 2.6 who lack dental insurance. Fewer than one in five Medicaid-covered children had a preventive dental visit during a recent year-long study. The daily reality for children with
untreated oral disease is often persistent pain, inability to eat comfortably or chew well, embarrassment at discolored and damaged teeth, and distraction from play and learning. More than 51 million school hours are lost each year because of dental-related illness.
What Can Parents and Caregivers Do?
Pregnant women should get prenatal care and eat a healthy diet that includes folic acid to prevent neural tube defects and possibly cleft lip/palate. During pregnancy avoid tobacco and alcohol, and check with a doctor before taking any medications. Put only water in your baby’s bottle
at bedtime or naptime. Milk, formula, juices, and other drinks contain sugar. Prolonged exposure to sugary drinks while
baby sleeps – when saliva flow is reduced – increases the risk of tooth decay. Take your child for an
oral health assessment between ages 1-2, and every six months thereafter. Protect your child’s teeth with fluoride.
Use a fluoridated toothpaste, putting only a pea-sized amount on your child’s toothbrush. If your drinking water is
not fluoridated, talk to a dentist or physician about the best way to protect your child’s teeth. Encourage your children to eat regular nutritious meals and to avoid frequent between-meal snacking. Talk to your child’s dentist about dental sealants, which protect teeth from decay. Make sure your child wears a helmet when bicycling and uses protective headgear
and mouth guards in other sports activities.
For more information,
contact:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Division of Oral Health, MS F-10
4770 Buford Highway, NE
Atlanta, GA 30341
1-888-CDC-2306
http://www.cdc.gov
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
National Institutes of Health
Building 45, Room 4AS-19
45 Center Drive MSC 6400
Bethesda, MD 20892-6400
http://www.nidcr.nih.gov
If you have questions or comments, e-mail:
ccdinfo@cdc.gov
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