Tooth Decay - Poor School Performance

Recent studies indicate that children who experience oral health problems such as tooth decay are more likely to have poor academic performance, in part because of an increase in the number of absences they experience.

Studies have shown that those missed hours can have a significant effect on overall school performance. Researchers found that children with oral health problems were three times as likely to miss school as their peers with good oral health. They also found that children who suffer infection and discomfort due to oral health problems had lower grades compared with children who had routine dental care—even if that routine care resulted in absences from school.

Beyond the issues of poor grades and missed school days, research has shown that children with poor oral health are more likely to have tooth and mouth problems as adults, which can wind up affecting their job performance.

Parents who want to maximize their child’s chances of success now and in the future need to make sure their child’s oral health is a priority. Regular examinations and preventive treatments are the first lines of defense in preventing decay, gum disease and other problems that can plague both children and adults.

If your child has missed school due to tooth or mouth pain, don’t delay: Call Dental Works 4 Kids today and schedule an appointment so your child can get the care needed to feel better and do better—academically, socially and in every area of life.

Dental Checklist: Check Your Child’s Teeth

A lifetime of good dental health starts at birth. In fact, regular dental care should begin by your child’s first birthday, followed by a dental check-up at least twice each consecutive year. This checklist can help you know the whats, whens and hows of your child’s dental health.

Birth to 6 months old

Even though your baby has a gummy smile, you still need to think about his or her teeth. Clean your infant’s mouth by wiping the gums with a soft piece of gauze after every feeding and at every bedtime. Ask your pediatrician about the need for fluoride supplements. As your baby starts to get on a more regular schedule, implement better feeding habits (i.e., avoid nursing or bottle-feeding throughout the night, and make sure to wipe your baby’s gums after the last feeding of the evening).

6 months old to 2 years old

During this period, your baby will begin teething. Now is a good time to start a dental health routine, brushing after meals and at bedtime with a soft-bristled toothbrush and bringing your child to see us when the first teeth erupt. Because children begin toddling around during the same time these first teeth appear, you also need to be on the lookout for chipped or damaged teeth after your toddler stumbles and falls.

2 years old to 5 and 6 years old

Most children will have their complete first set of teeth by the age of 3 and will begin to lose them to make way for the permanent adult teeth between 5 or 6 years old. Baby (or “deciduous”) teeth play an important role in ensuring future dental health: They hold space for future permanent teeth. Infected baby teeth can cause problems long into adulthood. To keep your child’s smile healthy, see us every six months or as directed, and instill good dental habits in your child. Children this age usually may start using fluoride toothpaste (under a parent’s supervision) and should begin flossing.

Around the age of 12, your child will have his or her full adult smile (aside from wisdom teeth, which come in later). Encourage healthy eating and regular brushing, and see us regularly, so that we—and your child—can keep those teeth pearly white for years to come.