Health News
- Uk Students In National Program To Educate Kids About Oral Health
A University of Kentucky undergraduate dental group was recently spotlighted by the National Children's Oral Health Foundation for their passion to share oral-health education with elementary and middle schools in Kentucky, according to a UK...
- Many Ky. Parents Don't Realize Children Are Overweight, Or Won't Acknowledge It, But Many Report Kids' Poor Health Behavior
By Al Cross Kentucky Health News Many Kentucky parents don't realize that their children are obese or overweight, or at least aren't willing to acknowledge it. That is the obvious conclusion to draw from the latest results of the Kentucky Parent...
- Kentucky Parents' Overall Perception Of Kentucky Children's Health Doesn't Match The Statistics, Foundation Survey Finds
Many Kentucky parents' perception of their children's health doesn't match statistics, suggesting that many health problems are going undetected or untreated. That is the upshot of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky's first...
- Students With Tooth Problems Don't Do As Well In School
More evidence shows students who have dental problems struggle more in school. A new study of almost 1,500 disadvantaged students in Los Angeles public schools found those who had had recent tooth pain were four times more likely to have a low grade-point...
- Summit And Local Groups Focus Attention On Oral Health, A Big Problem For Kentucky And One That Can Hurt Overall Health
By Sarah Vos and Al Cross Kentucky Health News When it comes to dental health, Kentucky is down in the mouth. It ranks among the worst in the nation, with high numbers of working adults who don?t have all their teeth, and a high percentage of children...
Health News
Early-childhood specialists want to help parents teach kids good oral-health habits; 40 percent have cavities by kindergarten
A recent report by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry showed that cavities are the most chronic disease for young children in the U.S. More than 40 percent of children suffer from tooth decay before kindergarten, Greg Stotelmyer reports for Public News Service. Groups of early-childhood professionals gathered in Louisville Thursday to learn how to educate parents to help improve their children's oral health.
Dr. Laura Hancock Jones, an outreach dentist with the University of Kentucky, emphasized the importance of teaching children how to brush their teeth and avoid too many sugary drinks before they turn 2. "We really need to foster the oral-health knowledge of those parents and not really delay that until [their children] are into preschool or elementary population," she said.
Molly Oliver, who runs a day-care center for the Trigg County school system, is one of those learning how to teach parents how to foster good health habits in their children. "We want to help build a relationship with our parents to try to help the parents and the children have better oral health for their families," she said.
Jones noted that food and beverage companies' marketing is making it harder for parents to steer their children away from unhealthy products. Parents need to make sure their children are brushing their teeth both morning and night. "And, for parents to understand that until their child is in second grade, they don't have the dexterity to get the job done themselves," she said. "You know, it's not enough for a parent to say, 'Hey, go brush your teeth,' when you're dealing with a 3-year-old. They still need to be in there doing the work themselves."
The Kentucky Oral Health Coalition is partnering with the UCLA Health Care Institute and the Governor's Office of Early Childhood to offer $1,000 grants to train early childhood professionals in 10 communities, Stotelmyer reports. The trainers will strive to provide children with the support of adults?both parents and child care professionals?who can help them understand how to maintain good oral health. (Read more)
Dr. Laura Hancock Jones, an outreach dentist with the University of Kentucky, emphasized the importance of teaching children how to brush their teeth and avoid too many sugary drinks before they turn 2. "We really need to foster the oral-health knowledge of those parents and not really delay that until [their children] are into preschool or elementary population," she said.
Molly Oliver, who runs a day-care center for the Trigg County school system, is one of those learning how to teach parents how to foster good health habits in their children. "We want to help build a relationship with our parents to try to help the parents and the children have better oral health for their families," she said.
Jones noted that food and beverage companies' marketing is making it harder for parents to steer their children away from unhealthy products. Parents need to make sure their children are brushing their teeth both morning and night. "And, for parents to understand that until their child is in second grade, they don't have the dexterity to get the job done themselves," she said. "You know, it's not enough for a parent to say, 'Hey, go brush your teeth,' when you're dealing with a 3-year-old. They still need to be in there doing the work themselves."
The Kentucky Oral Health Coalition is partnering with the UCLA Health Care Institute and the Governor's Office of Early Childhood to offer $1,000 grants to train early childhood professionals in 10 communities, Stotelmyer reports. The trainers will strive to provide children with the support of adults?both parents and child care professionals?who can help them understand how to maintain good oral health. (Read more)
- Uk Students In National Program To Educate Kids About Oral Health
A University of Kentucky undergraduate dental group was recently spotlighted by the National Children's Oral Health Foundation for their passion to share oral-health education with elementary and middle schools in Kentucky, according to a UK...
- Many Ky. Parents Don't Realize Children Are Overweight, Or Won't Acknowledge It, But Many Report Kids' Poor Health Behavior
By Al Cross Kentucky Health News Many Kentucky parents don't realize that their children are obese or overweight, or at least aren't willing to acknowledge it. That is the obvious conclusion to draw from the latest results of the Kentucky Parent...
- Kentucky Parents' Overall Perception Of Kentucky Children's Health Doesn't Match The Statistics, Foundation Survey Finds
Many Kentucky parents' perception of their children's health doesn't match statistics, suggesting that many health problems are going undetected or untreated. That is the upshot of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky's first...
- Students With Tooth Problems Don't Do As Well In School
More evidence shows students who have dental problems struggle more in school. A new study of almost 1,500 disadvantaged students in Los Angeles public schools found those who had had recent tooth pain were four times more likely to have a low grade-point...
- Summit And Local Groups Focus Attention On Oral Health, A Big Problem For Kentucky And One That Can Hurt Overall Health
By Sarah Vos and Al Cross Kentucky Health News When it comes to dental health, Kentucky is down in the mouth. It ranks among the worst in the nation, with high numbers of working adults who don?t have all their teeth, and a high percentage of children...