7. Dental Decay in Infants
and Preschoolers
• The extent of the problem
• The importance of primary teeth and how
decay relates to school success
• Signs of decay
8. Dental Decay in Infants
and Preschoolers
• How to prevent decay
• How nutrition relates to decay
• Using the Brush curriculum
10. The Extent of
The Problem
• Dental decay is the most common
childhood illness; 5 times more
common than asthma
11. The Extent of The Problem
• Decay has dropped for all age groups except preschoolers
– they have seen a rise
• 28% of preschoolers have dental decay
• Low-income children have 3 times the amount of decay
• 20% of the children have 80% of the cavities
12. • Dentists nationwide
say they are seeing
more preschoolers
with 6 to 10 cavities
or more.
• The level of decay
is so severe that they
often need to use
general anesthesia.
13.
14. • Children miss 51 million hours of school
due to dental decay.
• Much of this is due to the secondary ear,
nose and throat infections caused by decay.
16. •
•
•
•
Healthy Primary Teeth
Are Important!
In learning to speak properly
For chewing the healthiest foods like fruits and vegetables
To keep permanent teeth spaced properly
Decayed baby teeth can also decay the permanent teeth
below
17. Healthy Primary Teeth
Are Important!
•
•
•
Loss of baby teeth is a self-esteem issue
Children who are in pain from dental decay have
problems paying attention and learning
Decayed teeth can cause repeated ear and
throat infections
18. Healthy Primary Teeth
Are Important!
•
If children are in pain, are sick, aren’t sleeping, can’t
eat healthy food, and have self-esteem issues, they
are less likely to succeed in school.
29. • Flossing should start when baby has two teeth
that touch.
• A child’s floss pic is usually easier to use than
string floss.
30. • The first dentist visit should be at one year of age.
Babies should see the dentist earlier if they have signs
of decay or if siblings or parents have decay.
31. Nutrition and
Dental Decay
• Much of the decay in children’s teeth
is from too much sugar in their
foods and drinks.
32.
33. • It’s not just the sugar in candy that damages
teeth.
• Many candies are gummy and get down in
between teeth.
40. Snacks
• Gummy fruit snacks are one of the most common
snacks – and one of the most damaging to teeth.
41.
42. Fruit Snack Ingredients
Corn syrup, sugar, modified corn starch, juice from
concentrate, fruit purees, citric acid, lactic acid, natural
and artificial flavors, sodium citrate, gelatin, coconut
oil, carnauba wax, red 40, yellow 5 and blue 1.
52. Curriculum
• A 12 month curriculum
• The curriculum has weekly literacy, math,
health or art activities which reinforce dental
care, dental visits and nutrition
• Teachers can choose which lesson they want
to complete each week
• Children’s DVD
• Educator training
63. Review
• The extent of the problem
• The importance of primary teeth and how decay relates
to school success
• Signs of decay
• How to prevent decay
• How nutrition relates to decay
• Curricular resources
64. Group Activity
• List 3 things you learned.
• How will this change your practice in your
classroom?
• How will what you learned change how you
interact with parents?
