Everyone Deserves a Healthy Smile. Especially Kids.

By Dr. Ron Inge, DDS

Imagine. Not being able to chew your food or drink anything without pain. Not being able to speak clearly. Not being able to concentrate when you try to learn. Or even play.

That’s what an untold number of kids face each day throughout the nation, and right here in our own backyard in Missouri – due to untreated tooth decay. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that cavities remain one of the most common chronic childhood diseases in the United States. Additional studies reveal that approximately 20% of 5- to 11-year-olds have at least one untreated cavity, as do 13% of 12- to 19-year-olds. And, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reports that 29% of children have untreated tooth decay.

These are alarming numbers, especially considering that cavities are preventable.

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, which reminds all of us of the importance of good oral health for kids. Taking kids to the dentist twice a year for an exam, professional cleaning and any other necessary treatment is critical to their overall health and quality of life.

Unfortunately, many families struggle with access to dental care due to lack of insurance, or a shortage of dental professionals in their area. In response, Delta Dental of Missouri offers a Dental Care Resource Guide with options for free and low-cost dental care statewide.

During the past year, even those with dental insurance may have missed or postponed their regular checkups due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dental offices are continuing to take necessary protective measures to safely treat patients, so they can get the regular care they need.

In addition to ensuring regular dental visits, parents and caregivers can take the following steps to help maintain children’s dental health:

• Provide kids with a balanced diet that includes of plenty fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products. Limit foods high in sugar or starch, which stick to teeth. Help kids drink plenty of water every day.
• Brush your child’s teeth gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a pea-size drop of fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day with special attention to the gum line. As your child gets older, let them brush themselves, but until about age six, put the toothpaste on the toothbrush for them.
• Help children floss at least once a day. Use an interdental pick or brush between teeth.
• Replace toothbrushes every three to four months, or earlier if bristles are spread and worn.
• Be aware of bad habits like your child chewing ice or crunching hard foods, using teeth to open packages, or grinding and clenching, which break or chip teeth.
• Have your child wear a mouth guard when participating in sports or other activities that could cause trauma to the face and jaw.

Ask your child’s dentist about the benefits of sealants and fluoride varnishes. According to the CDC, applying dental sealants to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth prevents 80% of cavities, while applying a fluoride varnish can prevent about 33% of cavities in the primary (baby) teeth.

As the state dental benefits leader and a non-profit with a mission to improve oral health, Delta Dental of Missouri is committed to helping meet the oral health needs of children and adults across the state. Our Land of Smiles® program teaches grade-schoolers how to take great care of their growing smiles, educating more than one million kids since 2002. In 2019 and 2020, Delta Dental of Missouri contributed more than $3.8M to support community outreach initiatives, including many in the St. Louis area, which provide dental care and oral health education to children and adults.

This National Children’s Dental Health Month, we encourage parents and caregivers to make children’s dental health a priority. Helping kids get regular preventive care and learn healthy habits early will improve their oral and overall health for a lifetime.

Ron Inge, DDS, is chief dental officer, chief operating officer and vice president of professional services at Delta Dental of Missouri. Dr. Inge treated patients for more than 14 years in his private dental practice.