skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Friday, July 26, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Arson attacks paralyze French high-speed rail network hours before start of Olympics, the Obamas endorse Harris for President; A NY county creates facial recognition, privacy protections; Art breathes new life into pollution-ravaged MI community; 34 Years of the ADA.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Harris meets with Israeli PM Netanyahu and calls for a ceasefire. MI Rep. Rashida Tlaib faces backlash for a protest during Netanyahu's speech. And VA Sen. Mark Warner advocates for student debt relief.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

There's a gap between how rural and urban folks feel about the economy, Colorado's 'Rural is Rad' aims to connect outdoor businesses, more than a dozen of Maine's infrastructure sites face repeated flooding, and chocolate chip cookies rock August.

Expert tips to prevent cavities for Children's Dental Health Month

play audio
Play

Monday, February 12, 2024   

Beyond celebrating Valentine's Day, February is Children's Dental Health Month - which serves as a reminder to prioritize oral health habits that can benefit kids and individuals of all ages.

Oral health experts encourage parents to embrace and show more love to their kiddos by building good oral health early.

Dr. Frank Catalanotto is a professor of dentistry at the University of Florida and is the founder of Floridians for Dental Access.

He said getting babies used to the practice of cleaning includes using a soft cloth and water to gently rub a baby's gums - and when their first teeth show up at around six months, he said it's time for them to see a dentist, before age one.

"If the baby teeth are having problems, they are going to have problems with their adult teeth," said Catalanotto. "But the bigger issue is it leads to impaired school performance. They just don't do as well in school, and there is good data and research to support that. "

Catalanotto said that also comes from emotional trauma and bullying if a child may have broken down or funny teeth.

But to counter any issues, he recommended encouraging children to brush after meals and for parents to do the same to help reinforce those good habits.

Dr. Paul McConnell is the dental director for UnitedHealthcare. He dispelled a common misconception about cavities in baby teeth.

While some may believe they aren't a concern because they are eventually lost, McConnell highlighted the potential for painful and long-term impacts on the development of adult teeth.

"Dental decay in baby teeth may negatively affect the permanent teeth that are developing underneath," said McConnell, "and also lead to other issues such as pain, infection or even issues with speaking."

McConnell added that despite being largely preventable, dental decay ranks as the most common chronic condition among children - with nearly 50% of kids having at least one cavity by the age of eight.

He recommended daily flossing, especially if you haven't yet developed a health habit as an adult.

He noted that nearly half of adults 30 and older have some form of gum disease, increasing to 70% of people 65 and older.



Disclosure: UnitedHealthcare contributes to our fund for reporting on Health Issues. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


get more stories like this via email
more stories
According to the Tax Policy Center, for higher-income earners, sales taxes consume a lower share of their income than for other households. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

As Nebraska state lawmakers convene for a special session on property tax reform called by Gov. Jim Pillen, groups are weighing in on the details …


play sound

Traveling around rural Minnesota can be difficult but in more than half the state, nonprofit transit systems are helping people get where they need …

Social Issues

play sound

Student loan forgiveness took center stage on Thursday at the American Federation of Teachers conference. The Biden administration has canceled more …


Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., has introduced legislation to codify the Chevron Deference into law. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

Recent Supreme Court rulings on air pollution are affecting Virginia and the nation. Climate advocates said the court overstepped its bounds in …

Health and Wellness

play sound

World Hepatitis Day is this Sunday, and for the Oregon Health Authority, it's an opportunity to promote its plan to eliminate hepatitis across the …

The Gender Shades project revealed facial recognition performed poorest for darker-skinned women, and performed best for lighter-skinned men. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

Columbia County, New York, is implementing new facial recognition and privacy policies, following new upgrades to the county's surveillance cameras…

Health and Wellness

play sound

New York disability-rights advocates are celebrating the 34th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The 1990 …

Social Issues

play sound

As summer winds down and North Carolina students prepare to return to school, the focus shifts to the urgent need for better public education funding…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021