Poor oral health linked to poor performance at school
Dental experts in America have suggested a direct link between oral health and performance at school.
Dental hygienists claim that children’s oral health has direct implications for their ability to work effectively at school. Experts made the claims as part of National Children’s Dental Health Month, a national programme which aims to promote good oral health and provide children with free and low cost dental care.
Experts claim that pain associated with dental health problems, such as gum disease and tooth decay, contributes to difficulties at school because children are unable to concentrate on their schoolwork. If they require dental treatment and need regular appointments, this will also cause them to fall behind because they are missing classes. According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, premature tooth loss can contribute to speech problems, difficulties with focus and concentration and a lack of self-esteem. Poor oral health is also linked to problems in later life; research suggests that people with good oral health are more likely to succeed in both their social and professional lives.
Tooth decay is one of the most common childhood illnesses, but it is easily preventable; spending just a few minutes each day brushing the teeth and using dental floss and mouthwash can drastically reduce the chance of developing oral health problems. Dentists are encouraging parents to keep an eye on their children’s oral health from a very early age and to control their intake of sugary and acidic foods; dentists are also eager to promote regular dental check-ups.
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