Dental Caries in Early Childhood

National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center
Georgetown University Washington, DC 20057

E-mail: OHRCinfo@georgetown.edu
Website: https://www.mchoralhealth.org
Available from the website.

This guide provides an overview of the topic and features descriptions of and links to materials on data and surveillance, policy, professional education and training, public education, and state and local programs. The resource guide also includes descriptions of organizations that can provide additional support for activities that promote the availability of high-quality oral health care for young children. [Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau]

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National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center
Georgetown University Washington, DC 20057

E-mail: OHRCinfo@georgetown.edu
Website: https://www.mchoralhealth.org
Available from the website.

This fact sheet for health professionals provides information on preventing early childhood caries (ECC). Topics include what ECC is and who is at risk, the costs of ECC, and how ECC risk can be reduced. The fact sheet discusses the prevalence of ECC among various populations and why some populations are at higher risk than others, how ECC is treated and the impact of treatment on children and families, and effective strategies for preventing ECC. [Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau]

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National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center
Georgetown University Washington, DC 20057

E-mail: OHRCinfo@georgetown.edu
Website: https://www.mchoralhealth.org
Available at no charge; also available from the website.

This brochure is designed to educate women about the importance of oral hygiene and oral health care during pregnancy. Topics include brushing, flossing, eating healthy foods, and getting dental check-ups and treatment. Additional topics include the impact of hormonal changes during pregnancy on gum health, caring for an infant’s gums and teeth, and finding a dentist. The brochure is available in English and Spanish. [Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau]

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Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center
Telephone: (866) 763-6481
E-mail: health@ecetta.info
Website: https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov
Available from the website.

This series of handouts for pregnant women and parents of infants and young children provides simple tips on nutrition and oral health issues. Topics include brushing a young child’s teeth, choosing healthy drinks for young children, encouraging young children to drink water with fluoride, giving young children healthy snacks, taking care of oral health for pregnant women, and taking care of an infant’s oral health. The series is available in English and in Spanish.

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• Spanish

National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center
Georgetown University Washington, DC 20057

E-mail: OHRCinfo@georgetown.edu
Website: https://www.mchoralhealth.org
Available from the website.

This curriculum is designed to help health and early childhood professionals working in community settings (e.g., Head Start, home visiting, WIC staff) promote oral health in the course of promoting general health for infants, children, and their families. Topics include tooth decay, risk factors, and prevention; oral health risk assessment and oral health screening; and anticipatory guidance for parents. Each of the four modules includes an overview, learning objectives, key points, a post-test, and resources. A glossary and a list of presentations, print materials, and videotapes are also presented. [Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau]

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American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
211 East Chicago Avenue, Suite 1600
Chicago, IL 60611-2637

Telephone: (312) 337-2169
Fax: (312) 337-6329
Website: http://www.aapd.org
Available from the website.

This report examines tooth decay among young children. Topics include the high prevalence of tooth decay in young children, the impact of tooth decay on quality of life, dental visits among young children, and the dental home. Also discussed are how parents can find a dental home for their child, Medicaid solutions to the problem of health disparities, child well-being, and advocacy. In addition, the report looks at implications of the Affordable Care Act for pediatric oral health.

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U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
540 Gaither Road
Rockville, MD 20850

Telephone: (301) 427-1584
Website: http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org
Available from the website.

This statement provides recommendations for primary care clinicians about how to prevent tooth decay in infants and children under age 5. Recommendations include prescribing oral fluoride supplements starting at age 6 months for infants and children whose water supply is deficient in fluoride, applying fluoride varnish to the teeth of all infants and children starting at the age of primary tooth eruption, and routinely screening infants and children under age 5 for caries lesions.

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University of Hawaii at Manoa, Nancy Atmospera-Walch School of Nursing
2528 McCarthy Mall, Webster Hall 402
Honolulu, HI 96822

Telephone: 808-956-8522
Fax: 808-956-3257
Website: http://www.nursing.hawaii.edu/
Available from the website.

These resources offers instructions for how to provide five essential oral health services (caries risk assessment, knee-to-knee oral examination, fluoride varnish application, education/anticipatory guidance, and referral for a dental home) during a well-child visit. The tool also includes steps for fluoride varnish application and photographs to help health professionals identify tooth decay in infants and young children. A fluoride-varnish-progress-note template is included.

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University of Maryland School of Public Health, Horowitz Center for Health Literacy
Dean's Office SPH Building, Room 2367 University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742

Telephone: (301) 405-2356
E-mail: HealthLiteracy@umd.edu
Website: https://sph.umd.edu/center/hchl
Available from the website.

This video demonstrates the lift-the-lip technique for detecting tooth decay. It shows a health professional demonstrating to a mother of a young child how to use this technique to routinely check a child’s mouth for signs of tooth decay and the mother indicating that she understands how to use the technique and understands its importance.

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WHO Press
World Health Organization 20 Avenue Appia
1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland, Telephone: +41 22 791 3264
Fax: +41 22 791 4857
E-mail: bookorders@who.int
Website: http://apps.who.int/bookorders/
Available from the website. Document Number: ISBN 978-92-4-000005-6.

This manual focuses on reducing the incidence of early childhood caries (ECC) throughout the world. It is intended to inform and support stakeholders who work to improve children’s oral health, including community agencies, ministries of health, academics, and nongovernmental and professional organizations. The manual provides background on ECC, explains what ECC is, and outlines known risk factors and approaches to prevention and treatment. It is available in Arabic, English, French, Russian, and Spanish.

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