Tooth decay — the disease that causes cavities — is 2 to 3 times more common than childhood obesity or asthma. The pain from dental infections can hurt a child’s development and success in school. Tooth decay during early childhood is the strongest predictor of adult oral health problems.
Tooth decay can impose long-term costs on children and families. Kids who suffer dental pain are:
- Three times more likely to miss school due to dental pain.
- Four times more likely to have a lower grade-point average.
Young children with rampant tooth decay generally must be treated in hospital operating rooms (ORs) under general anesthesia, which can be a risk to developing brains. The average per-child cost of OR treatments can range from $5,500 to $15,000. 
Sadly, over 40% of more than 1,000 U.S. adults surveyed believe they have little or no control over whether they get a cavity, according to a new Children’s Dental Health Project (CDHP) survey released February 4. It is this ignorance that is causing the epidemic of dental decay in people of all ages. You are what you eat, is a true saying! And your dental habits – brushing and flossing- will dictate what state your mouth is in.
Courtesy of endcavities.org
