Holding a photo of her 6-year-old son, Jayden’s (pseudonym) mother told me: “He smiles in every school photo.” But in fact, Jayden’s front teeth are covered with obvious cavities, and these black spots have become the target of ridicule and bullying by classmates.
The pain caused by tooth decay made Jayden miss classes frequently. Living in a rural area in northern Florida, it took them several months to find a dentist who accepted Medicaid.
As the toothache worsened, Jayden gradually lost his smile.
As a community dental extension worker, I witnessed the great difficulties many children in Florida face in getting oral care.
Although tooth decay is mostly preventable, it is still the most common chronic disease among children in the United States, and the situation in Florida is particularly serious.
According to the latest data from the Florida Department of Health, nearly a third of third-graders in the 2021-22 school year had untreated tooth decay, almost twice the national rate of untreated tooth decay for children aged 6 to 9 (17%).
Only 37% of third-graders used dental sealants that can effectively prevent 80% of tooth decay, while the national average is 51.4%.
In the Head Start program for low-income families, 24% of children aged 3 to 6 had untreated tooth decay, far higher than the 11% of children of the same age nationwide.
The pain and missed school caused by tooth decay could have been avoided, but in reality they frequently occur. The 2023 report shows that the number of emergency visits for children in Florida due to dental diseases is increasing. Emergency treatment is expensive and mostly temporary, and cannot fundamentally solve oral health problems.
Florida’s dental service resources are seriously insufficient, with 5.9 million residents living in dentist shortage areas, and the number of dentists in 65 of 67 counties is far below the national average.
Although more than 2 million children have Medicaid, less than 20% of dentists accept this service. Even with private insurance, families often postpone treatment due to high out-of-pocket expenses, causing the condition to worsen.
In addition, many parents lack oral health awareness and do not know that children should start dental examinations around the age of 1, mistakenly believing that baby teeth are not important.
One of the most effective measures to prevent tooth decay is community drinking water fluoridation, but a recently passed law in Florida prohibits the addition of fluoride to public waters, making other preventive measures even more critical.
Non-invasive treatments, including regular fluoride varnish and the use of silver diamine fluoride, are recommended by pediatric and dental professional organizations and can be widely implemented in the community.
Parents can take the following measures to ensure their children’s oral health:
Regular dental examinations from the age of 1 to detect and treat problems in time;
In areas where dentists are scarce, seek referrals from pediatricians or use low-cost medical resources;
Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, using a rice-sized amount for children under 3 years old and a pea-sized amount for children 3 to 5 years old;
Make brushing fun and help children develop good habits;
Limit sugary snacks and drinks, and avoid letting babies sleep with bottles;
Ask your dentist if dental sealants and fluoride varnish are appropriate, especially for children at high risk.
Through these preventive measures, more children like Jayden can avoid tooth decay and regain their smiles and health.