FACTS & figures
The Cold Hard Tooth
5 Ways to Prevent Tooth Decay in Kids
2 1
Cutting a child’s soda or juice
consumption from once a day to
once a week cuts out 65 cups of
sugar per year.

Stock up on celery, carrots and
apples. These healthy snacks
help clear away food loosely
trapped between teeth.

3 Choose drinking water that contains
fluoride to strengthen tooth enamel,
and don’t let toddlers drink anything
other than water before bed.

Make sure children brush for two
minutes twice a day, and change
out their toothbrush every three
months. Take your child to the pediatric
dentist every six months for a
check up and cleaning and ask
for a fluoride treatment.

Tooth decay is the
most common
disease in the U.S.

Tooth decay is five
times more common
than asthma.

Every $1 spent
on prevention in
oral care can
save you $8-$50
on restorative
and emergency
procedures. 51 million school hours are
missed due to oral disease.

22 months is the most
common age for serious
dental problems in young
children. Children should see
the dentist when their
first tooth appears, or
no later than their
first birthday.

4 5
Tooth decay affects
42% of children aged
2-11 in the U.S.

3 out of 5 children are affected by
tooth decay.

Parents should supervise
children brushing their
teeth until age 7 or 8.

25% of children
don’t go to a
dentist before
they enter
Kindergarten. Sources: American Dental Education Association - Health Care Reform Advocacy Report • Department of Public Health • National Children’s Oral Health Foundation
www.tomsofmaine.com • www.tribecasmiles.com • www.pediatricdentistvalparaiso.com
washingtonFAMILY.com January 2016 15