A quarter of Californian children have never been to the dentist
A study has revealed that 1 in 4 Californian children have never been to visit a dentist.
The study, which was conducted by researchers from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research and the California Healthcare Foundation, was published in the Health Affairs journal this month. The project focused on dental health amongst children under the age of eleven in California and found that children with a Latino or African American heritage were least likely to visit a dentist on a regular basis.
The results of the study are undoubtedly alarming; poor oral health can affect children’s development, general health and performance at school. It is important that children visit their dentist on a regular basis from an early age in order to ensure their teeth and gums are healthy and reduce the need for complex, painful procedures in the future. Parents are also encouraged to teach their children about healthy eating and oral hygiene from an early age; eating sensibly and brushing your teeth on a regular basis can help to protect the teeth and promote good oral health.
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