Healthy Teeth = Better School Performance

All parents quickly learn one thing about their children: Sickness is inevitable. And sick children miss school. Although asthma is sometimes cited as the most common childhood disease, the actual leader, according to the National Institutes of Health, is dental caries. More than four in 10 school-aged children suffer from caries; that means your child is more than five times more likely to have caries than to develop asthma.

Early tooth loss caused by dental decay can lead to a wide range of problems:

*failure to thrive

*impaired speech development

*absence from and inability to concentrate in school

*reduced self-esteem

Dental problems in children have been linked to shyness, unhappiness, feelings of worthlessness and reduced friendliness. These effects grow as children get older; unhappiness and feeling of worthlessness peak for adolescents between 15 and 17 years.

Studies have suggested that children miss more than 1.7 million school days annually due to dental issues. And children who miss school don’t do as well socially or academically as do children with regular school attendance. Children with dental problems are more likely to have problems at school and less likely to do all their homework. Children suffering from a toothache cannot concentrate on their schoolwork and do not score as well on tests as do healthy children. Their school performance suffers, which tends to have a negative impact on their self-esteem.

But not all school absences have equal impact on a child’s progress. In a 2011 study published in the American Journal of Public Health, a team of researchers from the University of North Carolina found that “school absences caused by dental pain or infection were significantly related to parents’ reports of poor school performance, whereas school absences for routine dental care were not. These findings underscore the likelihood that school absence is not a stand-alone factor in considerations of school performance, providing further evidence that children experiencing pain or infection may have a diminished educational experience because their discomfort may inhibit their ability to perform well while at school.”

Good oral hygiene and regular visits to the dentist, even if those visits have to be scheduled during school hours, help keep your child’s teeth healthy. And children with good oral health are more likely to have better outcomes at school.

Healthy Mouth, Healthy Body

Over the past 10 years, researchers have uncovered links between oral health and systemic diseases. Many of these connections begin in childhood but become apparent only in adults. Others directly affect children.

Appearing to be the common thread between mouth and body health, inflammation is the result of bacterial infections. For instance, infection of the gums, called periodontitis, can develop in both children and adults. When the gums become infected, chemical signals attract cells of the immune system to the infected site. As the immune system fights the infection, the gums become swollen, painful and bleed easily. The pain and soreness, just like pain from a cavity, can cause children to lose sleep, become distracted at school, eat poorly and develop low self-esteem—all conditions that interfere with school performance. If left untreated, periodontitis also can damage the jawbone, resulting in loose or lost teeth.

Untreated inflammation in the mouth is also thought to stimulate inflammation in the blood vessels. This increases blood pressure and the risk of heart disease and heart attack later in life. The reason for this connection remains under investigation.

Researchers have also found a strong correlation between periodontal disease and type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is a disease in which the body’s ability to convert sugar to energy is impaired. The level of sugar in the blood rises, leading to a myriad of serious health problems. Although diabetes is most often an adult problem, the rate of type 2 diabetes in children has increased substantially, in tandem with the increased rate of childhood obesity.

Researchers are not sure just how periodontitis relates to diabetes. The direction of the causation has not been determined. People with diabetes may be more likely to develop gum infections and vice versa. Preventing and treating periodontal disease is one small way to help people control their diabetes.

Good dental habits, such as eating healthy foods, avoiding excess sugar, brushing and flossing daily, having regular dental visits, and treating tooth decay and gum disease early, help keep the mouth—and the body—healthy.

Do YOU Brush Your Teeth Correctly?

Almost everybody brushes their teeth, but only one in ten people are doing it effectively!  And, if you aren't doing it right, how are you going to teach your children?

Don’t worry!! Your friends at KiDDS Dental are here to help you. So sit back and open wide as we present….

The Top Eight Toothbrushing Tips!

1.     Size Matters!

Many people use a large toothbrush head thinking “the bigger the better.” But you can brush just as effectively if not more so with a smaller brush, especially if you have to strain your mouth to use a larger one.

According to dental consumer advisor Dr. Richard Price, "the more comfortable it is in your mouth and your hand, then the more likely you will use it and use it properly." 

2.     It’s Good To Be A Softy!

It would seem to make sense that firmer bristles would clean your teeth better, but many times they just wind up damaging your sensitive gum tissue. The American Dental Association recommends a soft-bristled brush and we agree!

3.     Don’t Do A Rush Job!

While most people spend fifteen seconds or so per round of brushing, a full two minutes is best. And to make sure you don’t play favorites, divide your mouth into four sections (upper right, lower right, etc..) and spend thirty seconds on each.

Some electric toothbrushes actually have timers, but you don’t need to be so fancy. Find a thirty second song and sing it to yourself for each mouth quarter. Or multitask by watching TV until the full two minutes is up.

4.     What’s Your Angle?

While we typically picture toothbrushing to be a horizontal affair, that leaves out many important tooth surfaces, including the crucial area where the tooth meets the gum line. Aim your bristles at a forty-five degree angle and make sure they gently dip below the outer surface of your gums. This can get very tricky, and we recommend that you have one of the fantastic members of our dental hygiene team give you a full demonstration!

5.     It’s An Inside Job!

The inner surfaces of the teeth are often overlooked, but just because they hide from daylight doesn’t mean you should neglect them! Take the time to brush all tooth surfaces, inside and out. Oh – don’t forget your tongue either!

6.     Rinse-a-rama!

After you brush, loose bacteria are floating around in your mouth having a big old party. It’s time to finish them up with a rinse of mouthwash or even water. They’re on your toothbrush too, so it’s always a good idea to run that under the sink for a few seconds when you finish!

7.     Forced Retirement

Many people get nostalgic over their old toothbrushes, but keeping them for too long is a big mistake!! Frayed bristles can’t clean correctly, and even worse – they harbor all kinds of nasty germs. The American Dental Association suggests changing your toothbrush every three to four months – but we think that may even be too long of an interval for many. When in doubt – toss it out!

8.     And There’s One More Thing…..

Even though we are discussing toothbrushing, it just wouldn’t be complete without mentioning those tooth surfaces between your teeth – the ones that can’t be reached with a brush. Yes, that’s right – we all need to floss!! Daily flossing prevents cavities and helps to keep your gums in good shape.

At KiDDS Dental, we want you to be a good example, with strong healthy teeth and gums, fresh breath and a beautiful smile!  When you are at your child's appointment, ask any of your questions about keeping your and your children's teeth and gums nice and clean.  We are here for you!  Call us at 509-891-7070 to schedule your child's appointment today!