The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) announced today that for National Dental Hygiene Month (NDHM) 2006 the celebration will focus upon early childhood caries (ECC). The first topic of the four-year theme “A Healthy Smile Lasts a Lifetime,” which will closely examine various oral afflictions to specific age groups throughout an individual’s lifespan, ECC was selected in part because of the lasting effect they can have on a child’s mouth.
Dental decay is the most common chronic disease of childhood, affecting 50 percent of children by middle childhood and nearly 70 percent by late adolescence. Luckily, ECC are easily prevented by instilling a proper oral hygiene routine at an early age. By emphasizing good oral health habits as early as infancy, parents can help lay the foundation for a lifelong effective oral health routine.
“Preventing early childhood caries is essential to the health of a child’s mouth and body,” said Marge L. Green, CDA, RDH, MS, ADHA president. “Dental hygienists are the frontline of defense against oral disease, and play an essential role in the prevention of early childhood caries, as well as the education of both parents and children on the importance of proper oral health habits.”
ADHA is encouraging dental hygienists across the country to get involved NDHM this October to increase public awareness of proper oral health habits for children, especially the prevention of early childhood caries.