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RALEIGH–Most candy go and costumes have been put away. Halloween is over, but attention to the oral health status of the North Carolina children should not fade.
Good oral health forms the foundation of children's overall health and well-being. This affects how they look, feel, learn and behave. Improve children's oral health in North Carolina to be "tough"-most of the damage to the teeth can be prevented when children have access to protection measures such as regular screenings and fluoride treatments. Unfortunately, the data shows dental care continue to be unmet needs for many children.
Tooth decay is the most common chronic illness of childhood, is more common than asthma or obesity. In North Carolina, 63 percent of the children began their school careers in poor oral health. That means in the KINDERGARTEN classes average about 15 children suffering from rot, full or missing primary teeth. But these figures show the average; When we dig into data, geographical gaps emerged which stark showed some lack of public access resources that are necessary to protect the oral health of their children.
Poor oral hygiene undermine children's readiness for learning and jeopardizes the success of their future. Children who are struggling with damage to the teeth undergo significant pain that limits their ability to eat, sleep and pay attention in class. They are more likely to miss school as a result of their dental problems, resulting in lost time and lost the opportunity to learn.