Programs & Services: Oral Health

Children's Oral Health

 

Dental Programs in Asotin County

Grinovations (Asotin County Elementary Sealant Program)

• Available thru Asotin and Clarkston Elementary Schools.
• Program Manager; Lori Haley (509) 303-9700                   e-mail:  grinovations01@gmail.com

Women, Infant and Children Program (Asotin County Health District)

• Oral health education, toothbrushes and referrals.
• Access to Baby and Child Dentistry Program (Children 0-5 years), referrals.

Lewis & Clark Dental Clinic

844 6th Street Clarkston, WA  99403

Phone:  208-848-8308  Fax:  509-254-2595

 

 

Why Children's Oral Health is Important

The Surgeon General has reported that oral health is a critical and unmet child health issue. The health and development of children's mouths and teeth are as important as any other part of their body, affecting how children feel and behave, and how they will develop into young adults. Untreated tooth decay can lead to inadequate nutrition and speech problems.

Poor oral health of children has been related to poor performance in school, poor social relationships and less success later in life.

If children are sitting in school feeling pain, it distracts them from concentrating on school work. Low and moderate income children miss an average of 13 days a year of school due to untreated dental problems.

In Washington State, one in seven low-income children has unmet dental needs. That's almost 50% higher than the national rate.

Tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease in America. It affects half of all first graders and 80% of seventeen-year-olds.

Forty percent of employees in our state have no dental coverage.

Asotin County Health District offers the following suggestions for a healthy mouth for your child:

• Insist children brush at least twice and floss once every day. Wipe your infant's teeth with a soft washcloth twice daily.
• Don't let infants fall asleep with a bottle of milk, juice or pop in their mouth. This can cause devastating decay, also known as baby bottle tooth decay.
• Drink fluoridated water. If you don't have access to fluoridated water, ask your dentist about other sources of fluoride.
• Offer your children nutritious snacks such as cheese, vegetables, yogurt and milk to build strong teeth.
• Have children swish their mouths with water after lunch at school or better yet, encourage them to bring a toothbrush to school.
• Arrange regular dental checkups starting in the first year of life, shortly after the first tooth emerges.  

Asotin County Health District is working to improve children's oral health by offering education regarding this disease and fluoride varnish to children under age 18. We also have partnered with Washington Dental Service Foundation to assist children birth thru 6th birthday in locating a dentist.  This is called Access to Baby and Child Dentistry Program, ABCD.  If you have any questions regarding our services, please contact (509)-758-3344 or view this web site:

www.KIDSORALHEALTHWATCH.org.