KING COUNTY, WA - As kids get ready to go back to school, Public Health - Seattle & King County is unveiling its new oral health webpages that help families and dental providers make sure all children have healthy teeth and gums.
"Kids need to go to school each day feeling good and healthy, and an important part of this includes having healthy teeth," said King County Executive Ron Sims. "These new webpages tell us about the status of oral health in our community and how all children can access dental care and preventive services."
Please visit Public Health's new Oral Health webpages: http://www.metrokc.gov/health/oralhealth
The new Oral Health webpages have information on:
- community dental services and clinics
- disease prevention programs
- how parents and dental professionals can promote children's good oral health
- local oral health data, resources and links to other oral health sites
"By visiting a dentist at an early age and taking preventive measures, like applying sealants, children can begin a lifetime of good oral health," said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County.
In King County, among second and third graders, one in seven children has untreated decay, and more than half do not have sealants. Additionally, there are higher rates of tooth decay among children of color, children in low-income households, children who live in non-English speaking households, and children without dental insurance.
Low-income children and children covered by Medicaid can be connected to a dental care provider by contacting the Community Health Access Program, 206-284-0331 or 800-756-5437.
How to promote good oral health among children
- Start at an early age. Beginning at age one, children need a yearly dental exam.
"It's important to monitor a child's oral health early, and parents can benefit greatly from getting professional advice," said Ellen Jeffcott, Public Health's Community Oral Health Program Manager.
- Drink fluoridated water and brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
Fluoride in water and toothpaste helps to repair microscopic breakdown of teeth. Parents of children who live in areas without fluoridated water or who have cavities should ask their dentist if professional fluoride application would be beneficial.
- Ask for sealants. When children are between six and seven years old, their permanent molars erupt, and this is the best time to apply sealants.
Sealants are placed on the biting surfaces of molars, where most cavities appear.
- Provide a balanced diet. Good nutrition, including a diet low in sugar-rich foods, is important for oral health.
- Replace toothbrushes every three to four months or after an illness. Germs can remain on toothbrushes, causing re-infection.
"By getting a new toothbrush at the beginning of the school year, your children are starting off the year right," said Jeffcott.
