A few years ago, more than 50 percent of school age children in Plains and Kismet, KS, were on free and reduced lunches. Norma Sanchez, a school nurse, returned to the area in late 2010 and became alarmed at the number of children coming to her office complaining of mouth pain. In addition to the medical needs of her students that were not being met, Norma recognized that many of her students had either never been to the dentist or had not returned to the dentist in years. Families with insurance had to travel three hours from Plains and Kismet for specialized pediatric care, and uninsured families had to travel an hour and a half to Garden City.
The children in Plains and Kismet are far from the only children to suffer from the effects of untreated dental decay. In the United States, dental decay is the most common chronic disease of children and adolescents between the ages of 6-19; in Kansas, 48% of 3rd grade children have experienced dental decay. Kids with untreated dental decay can experience pain that causes them to pay less attention in school or miss school altogether, and poor oral health has been related to decreased school performance, poor social relationships, and less success later in life.
The thing is, dental decay is a completely preventable childhood disease. Fluoridated community water can help prevent cavities and help kids like the ones in Plains and Kismet live better lives.
“In my opinion, oral health is about many things. It’s about educating how to have good hygiene habits, about having regular professional check-ups at an early age, having good nutrition, and treatment for oral problems (even on baby teeth). One simple way to ensure good oral health is to drink fluoridated water. It is a simple, effective way to take preventative measures for the overall task of good oral health. And for our students, prevention may be the only option.”
Norma Sanchez, R.N.
USD #483 School Health Nurse