Nat’l Children’s Dental Health Month

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month! Tooth decay (also known as cavities or caries) is the number one chronic childhood disease in the United States and is on the rise! Untreated cavities can cause pain and infections that may lead to problems with eating, speaking, playing, and learning. More than half of children aged 6 to 8 have had a cavity in at least one of their baby (primary) teeth. More than half of adolescents aged 12 to 19 have had a cavity in at least one of their permanent teeth.

Tooth decay is caused by sugar-loving bacteria that grows in the mouth. Th...