Kids Continue to Miss School Because of Dental Problems

Every year kids miss valuable school days due to dental problems, and end up spending time in the dentist’s chair instead of their desk chair. The dental health of children is critical for their overall health and well-being. When it isn’t properly cared for, poor dental health can impact important parts of a child’s development.

Dental problems and daily life

When anyone, adult or child, experiences pain or discomfort in the mouth, it impacts their ability to function. They may experience:

• Decreased ability to concentrate due to pain
• Decreased self-confidence from an unhealthy smile
• Lower school/work attendance rate because of dental appointments
• Decrease in their school/work performance
• Change in ability to speak correctly

The dental health of children in school

Dental problems can lead to children missing partial lessons or entire days of school. Recent studies have found that 30% of children ages 6-12 missed school due to dental problems. This refers to treatment that is past preventive care and does not include regular bi-annual dental appointments. Children in the United States missed over 9,000,000 school days in 2016 due to dental issues—that’s an alarming number! 

The dental health of children is vital to their development. Parents admit that it’s harder to get their kids to brush and floss than it is to have them do their homework or make their bed. Starting good oral health habits now will lead to a healthier smile throughout your child’s life.

Here are some tips to encourage your school-aged children to partake in oral health routines:

• Use your child’s favorite song or short video clip as a timer. Make sure it is at least two minutes long.
• Stick to an oral health routine, even when on vacation or after a long day.
• Be a good role model by brushing and flossing your teeth.
• Reward good oral health behavior by adding it to a reward chart or simply giving an energetic high-five.
• Read books that encourage good oral health.
• Let your child pick out their own toothbrush and toothpaste.

Click here to learn more about kids’ oral health.

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