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Celebrating National Children’s Dental Health Month

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Tonya Collett
  • 20th Dental Squadron
As we celebrate Children's Dental Health Month during February, take a look at some of these children's dental health statistics.  Is there at least one dental fact you may not have known?

-Childhood tooth decay is five times more common than asthma and seven times more common than hay fever.

-According to the Academy of General Dentistry, more than 51 million school hours are lost each year due to dental-related illnesses.

-Almost 50 percent of tooth decay remains untreated in low-income children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

-Tooth decay affects more than one-fourth of U.S. children aged 2-5 years old and one-half of children aged 12-15 years old.

  Despite these dental health statistics, many children still do not visit the dentist. Parents need to make dental health for children a priority.

The aim of Children's Dental Health Month is to raise awareness about the importance of oral health for our kids. Developing good dental hygiene habits during childhood and keeping regular visits to the dentist helps our children start a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums. 

To enroll your child in the TRICARE Dental Program, call (855)638-8371 or visit http://www.tricare.mil/CoveredServices/Dental/TDP.aspx