The U.S. Surgeon General has identified the mouth as an early warning system, signaling trouble in other parts of the body. Oral health is inextricably linked to overall health. In fact, dental disease is caused by a bacterial infection in the mouth. Left untreated, it can lead to life-long health problems, from respiratory disease, to heart disease to diabetes.
In Massachusetts, nearly half of all children have experienced this disease by the time they reach third grade. Left untreated, dental disease can impact a child’s ability to eat, sleep and concentrate in school. It is no surprise, then, that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has released a policy statement that encourages pediatricians to include oral health to be included in routine care.
The paper, from the AAP’s Section on Pediatric Dentistry and Oral Health, states that pediatricians should periodically assess the oral health of all children, and all patients should have a dental home by their first birthdays. The inclusion of oral health in routine pediatric visits will surely help promote the health of all children in Massachusetts.
To read the full article, click here.
For more information on how to speak up for children’s oral health, please visit www.watchyourmouth.org.
Christine Keeves
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