 
Start school year right with checkups for kids
Dental problems such as decay and trauma can cause schoolchildren severe pain and keep them from learning in the classroom. And sometimes these problems keep them out of the classroom altogether. The fact is, 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. Jed Jacobson, vice president of Professional Services and dental director at the Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. "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 cavities, gum disease, poor bite, loose teeth and oral trauma. Children from low-income families suffer nearly five times as many cavities 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 start of a new school year is a good time to evaluate your children's dental health and habits. It may be time for a checkup and a new toothbrush," said Dr. Jacobson. "Checking oral health is as important as booster shots and should be part of regular back-to-school preparations."
Even with regular checkups, dentists recommend that parents periodically check their children's mouths for signs of periodontal disease, including bleeding, swollen and/or bright red gums, persistent bad breath and gums that have receded from teeth.
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