Oral Health and Learning

The two most important things to teach and preach to your children are good health and education. That connection goes deep, former U.S. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elder, MD is quoted saying, “You cannot educate a child who is not healthy and you cannot keep a child healthy who is not educated. Food for thought and body if you ask us.

A report last year, Oral Health and Learning (Oct 2013), made multiple connections between poor oral health and impaired learning. It shows how essential good health is to a healthy mind. Some of the finders were shocking.

• Children in low income families who experienced toothaches in the last six months are almost six times as likely to miss school days because of oral health issues compared to children in low income families that have not experienced toothaches
• Children and adolescents who experience oral health problems are more likely to experience a number of emotional health issues, such as feeling “worthless and inferior, shy, unhappy, sad or depressed.

So not only does good oral health lead to good learning habit but it also leads to great smiles! And who doesn’t love a great smile.