Visit a Dentist Regularly
- Children with cavities in their baby teeth are 3 times more likely to develop cavities in their adults teeth.
- Children with poor oral health are nearly 3 times more likely to miss school due to dental pain.
- Take your baby to a dentist by 1 year of age for a check-up.
- Parents discuss with your dentist dental sealants for you child’s adult molars when they first appear and before they have any decay.
- Pregnancy is a good time to consider your own dental health.
- Being pregnant can intensify dental disease.
North Carolina Dental Screening Data
The NC Oral Health Section has dental health hygienist that work on gathering data on children screening in kindergarten and the Fifth Grade. Funding issues impact some areas of the state having adequate public health dental hygienist to be able to gather data every year.
County Level Oral Health Status 2012-2013- Duplin
- Screened 810 kindergarten students which was 94% of all students enrolled in school within the first 30 days.
- Showed 47% of students had no decayed, missing or filled teeth. The NC rate was 64% of students.
- Screened 690 fifth graders which was 96% of enrolled students.
- Showed 68% had no decayed, missing or filled teeth. The NC rate was 78% of students.
NC Oral Health Branch http://www.ncdhhs.gov/dph/oralhealth/stats/MeasuringOralHealth.htm