Dental health problems can result in missing school

[Combatron]

Many people in California are having difficulty affording dental care and their children's education is suffering as a consequence.

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Center for Health Policy Research says limited access to affordable dental care is partly responsible for the state's dental problems, according to radio KPBS San Diego. More than half a million Californian children miss at least one day of school per year, and UCLA claims kids whose families do not have dental coverage are absent even more frequently.

"Statistically it's about the same as children who miss school to other important chronic conditions such as asthma, even though the actual number is a little bit higher," UCLA's Nadereh Pourat told the news source.

In September of 2009, the New York Times published an article that said more than 100 million Americans don't have dental coverage. The Mayo Clinic says gum infections like periodontitis can cause tooth loss and other health problems. Regular professional teeth cleanings can help prevent such infections, as can daily brushing and flossing.

[charming]

I am sure infections are a great deal of the absent times, esp. for those with low or zero coverage. I remember a girl I went to high school with ended up having a double abscess and she was gone for longer than a week.

[chibilito]

kids really hate toothaches. when i was a kid i got this problem too. i missed school about a week because of severe toothache. but i really don't want to go dentist before.

[dudieezper]

Actually that is really right, I have an experience that my tooth got an infection. I can't even eat better, and after a week I have been to the clinic and the doctor had a surgery with my infected tooth. Dental health is really one of the cause of missing school.Actually, that is really right, I have an experience that my tooth got an infection. I can't even eat better, and after a week I have been to the clinic and the doctor had a surgery with my infected tooth. Dental health is really one of the causes of missing school.