Oral Health & Early Learning

Ensuring Oral Health is a part of Early Learning

In order for children to be ready for school, they need to be healthy.  Oral health is a critical part of a child’s health, growth, development and ability to learn.

Dental decay is the single most common chronic disease of early childhood.  Left untreated, the pain and infection caused by tooth decay can lead to problems eating, sleeping and speaking.  The good news is that dental disease is almost entirely preventable.

What policymakers can do:

• Protect funding for early learning programs, ECEAP and the Home Visiting Services Fund, that provide coordination for children’s health including oral health.
• Include oral health in regulations for licensed child care settings.
• Include oral health in training for early learning professionals.