Montclair, California — Experts say children’s oral health is increasingly becoming a key factor influencing academic performance, yet it is often overlooked in discussions about curriculum design, class size, and school resources.
A dentist practicing in Montclair frequently encounters children experiencing learning difficulties due to untreated dental problems. “They come in in excruciating pain, exhausted from lack of sleep, unable to concentrate, and even embarrassed to speak or smile,” the doctor said.
Research supports these observations. A 2019 meta-analysis found that children with untreated cavities were more likely to experience declining grades and absenteeism compared to their peers. Toothache disrupts sleep, nutrition, attention, and mood regulation, thus impacting learning. According to the PADMEL, children with poor oral health are almost three times more likely to skip school.
This impact is particularly severe for low-income families. In California, less than half of Medi-Cal (California’s Medicaid program)-covered children received preventative dental care in 2022. Low reimbursement rates and a shortage of healthcare providers often force families to wait weeks or even months for appointments, causing minor dental problems to escalate into painful infections. Hispanic children in the state are almost twice as likely to have untreated cavities as white children.
Experts say school dental programs can help. For example, California’s Virtual Dental Home program sends dental hygienists and assistants to schools, daycare centers, and community centers to conduct checkups and collect diagnostic data. Dentists then provide remote guidance, referring children to clinics only when more complex treatments are needed.
Policymakers are being urged to increase reimbursement rates and integrate dental screenings alongside vision and hearing tests into school health programs. Educational activities involving parents and teachers can further reinforce oral hygiene habits at home and in the classroom.
“Expecting children to succeed academically while suffering from toothache is like expecting them to learn with untreated vision or hearing problems,” a doctor said. “Children’s health is the foundation of learning. Oral health should not be neglected.”