Once again, dentists from all over the country donated their services to kids whose parents could not afford to take care of their dental needs. In my office alone, we provided over $6,500 worth of care on Feb. 6, 2009, so you can imagine the value of the care provided by thousands of dentists across the entire country.

This seems a lot better than any stimulus package. The problem is that these kids need lots of care. Why do these kids have more cavities than the general population?
At first, I thought it was directly related to the parent’s lack of funds. The answer is not so simple. Just because these parents can’t afford dental care for their kids does not explain the high numbers of cavities found.

You would think that with limited funds parents would have an interest in providing a healthy diet to their kids so they would not need much dental care. In talking to all the parents that day I found a significant lack of knowledge regarding a healthy diet. A healthy diet does not cost more; it just requires some basic understanding about nutrition.

Many of the parents claimed that their kids eat a healthy breakfast. They said they ate Froot Loops, Frosted Flakes, and Pop-Tarts. These cereals will make the child feel full but they have a very high sugar content. The sugar high lasts a few hours and then the kids are ready for a nap. High-sugar breakfasts can affect learning in school.

Many of the kids drink lots of pop. The acid in the pop and sugar combine to dissolve the enamel. Water is free and pop costs money, and yet pop is the drink of choice. Tap water is the healthiest thing a kid can drink.

Is it the educational level of the parents? Is it cultural? It’s hard to say. One thing for certain, is that in lower socioeconomic families there is a lack of understanding about nutrition. This alone is the cause for billions of dollars of dental care that is completely avoidable in a population that cannot afford the care.

How do we get these parents to buy an apple instead of a bottle of pop? How do we convince them to avoid fast food and sugary breakfast cereals?

Everyone must take responsibility to make sure these parents know what is healthy for their children’s teeth. They love their children like anybody else and want what’s best for them but simply do not have the nutritional knowledge. People with healthy teeth live longer and enjoy a better quality of life. Everyone, from the schools to the pediatricians must do a better job of educating the parents and the children about nutrition.

Wouldn’t it be great if every parent bringing their child to kindergarten could meet with the school nurse and get nutritional counseling? Instead of our tax dollars going to fund bonuses and corporate jets, wouldn’t it be better spent on programs to educate folks about nutrition? It would cost very little and would save billions.

© 2009 Mitch Friedman, DDS
Healthy Learning Paths Advisory Member