New programme set to boost children’s oral health
A new programme will tackle poor oral health and promote good dental health amongst children in Oregon.
The South Coast Children’s Dental Health Initiative will be launched as part of a collaborative effort by Coos County Public Health and Oregon Community Foundation. The South Coast Leadership Council has been awarded a grant of $500,000 in order to develop and implicate the three year programme.
The programme will aim to change the face of oral health amongst children in the local area; children will be educated about the importance of good oral health, how to maintain high standards of oral hygiene, healthy eating and the dangers associated with poor oral health. Schools in Curry and Coos counties will be targeted by the scheme and it is hoped that the children will benefit from the time they spend with trained professionals and experts.
As well as educating the children and encouraging them to learn about oral health, some children will receive treatment as part of the programme; children who come from low income families and those without insurance will be prioritised. Volunteers and developers working on the foundations and plans for the programme found that dental health problems were a major cause of missing classes and whole days of school amongst children; consequently, improving standards of oral health will help to improve children’s performance at school and save them from missing classes due to preventable illnesses such as tooth decay.
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