Poor oral health can likely have a negative impact on a child’s life. It affects many aspects of their life, including their school performance.
A study conducted in North Carolina showed a correlation between school performance and dental health. It was determined that kids with bad oral health were 40% more likely to struggle in school than those with good oral health. Another study conducted in Los Angeles showed that among 1500 disadvantaged children studying in public schools, those who reported experiencing tooth pain were four times more likely to have a lower grade point average than those who did not exhibit tooth pain.
Why oral health matters
Dr. Kami Hoss examines the reasons behind these observations.
Firstly, children with poor oral health are more likely to miss additional school hours due to dental pain. A little more than three out of 10 parents said, back in 2015, that their children, between six to 12 years old, had to miss school because of dental health problems.
Additionally, poor oral health can make it difficult for students to concentrate on schoolwork and other tasks. The discomfort or pain resulting from bad dental conditions can cause children to perform worse in school, leading to unsatisfactory grades.
A challenge parents have to deal with is that children are usually not communicative when experiencing dental pain or discomfort. Some kids even fear that they will be in trouble for their behavior.
It is essential then for parents to help their children take good care of their oral health by teaching them proper oral hygiene and regularly bringing them to the dentist. Another important thing for parents to remember is that diet can impact a child’s dental health, not to mention their overall wellbeing. For example, food rich in sugar or that is hard to chew is bad for the teeth and has to be avoided as much as possible.
Dr. Kami Hoss is the CEO of The Super Dentists, one of the largest pediatric dentistry and orthodontic practices in San Diego. He holds a master’s degree in craniofacial biology and a doctorate in dental surgery. Read more about him here.