| Dental problems such as decay and
trauma can cause school children severe pain and keep
them from learning in the classroom. And sometimes these
problems keep them out of the classroom altogether.
U.S. children lose an estimated 51
million school hours each year due to dental-related
illness.
"Painful, chronic dental
problems can hurt a student's ability to thrive,"
said Dr. Scott Navarro, Dental Director, Delta Dental
Plan of New Jersey. "Early tooth loss due to decay
can impair speech development, and students may fall
behind in schoolwork due to increased absences. When
they are in school, students experiencing dental pain
may have trouble concentrating and learning."
School nurses report a range of
dental problems in children they see, including dental
caries, gum disease, poor bite, loose teeth, and oral
trauma.
Children from low-income families
are hardest hit with oral health problems, suffering
nearly five times as much dental caries as children from
higher-income families, according to the U.S. General
Accounting Office. If left untreated, the pain and
infection from these oral health problems can lead to
trouble eating, speaking, and learning.
Students with chronic dental pain
aren't always able to verbalize it. Teachers may notice
that a student is anxious, depressed or fatigued, but
not automatically recognize these behaviors as
manifestations of physical pain.
When children's dental problems
are treated and they are no longer in pain, both their
learning and school attendance records improve,
according to the American Journal of Public Health.
The American Dental Association
recommends that children start regular dental visits by
age one. Children and adults should have a dental
check-up every six months.
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