USA - Treating children to healthier teeth

North Carolina is 88% fluoridated.NYSCOF
....Dental decay is the most common chronic diseases of childhood, more common than asthma or obesity. In North Carolina, 63 percent of children begin their school career in poor oral health. That means in the average kindergarten classroom about 13 children suffer from decayed, filled or missing primary teeth. But this number represents an average; when we dig deeper into the data, stark geographic disparities emerge which suggest some communities lack access the resources needed to protect their children's oral health.

Poor oral health undermines children's readiness to learn and jeopardizes their future success. Children struggling with dental decay experience significant pain that limits their ability to eat, sleep and pay attention in class. They are more likely to miss school as a result of their dental problems, resulting in lost learning time and lost opportunities.

Dental decay doesn't just hinder children's educational progress; it undermines our ability to create the capable, healthy workforce businesses need to thrive; ultimately, costing the state millions in increased health care costs and diminished productivity. Children with untreated dental decay face greater risk of debilitating medical conditions later in life including health disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes. These serious, chronic illnesses are more likely to send workers rushing to the emergency room, keeping them out of work......