Simple, Effective—and Inexpensive— Strategies to Reduce Tooth Decay in Children

Abstract

Access to primary preventive dental care will likely decrease in a poor economy, challenging all health care providers to identify inexpensive ways to help families prevent tooth decay. The incidence of tooth decay in very young children is increasing. Tooth decay can result in death in children if the subsequent infection is untreated. However, easy, inexpensive, and effective strategies exist to improve the dental health of children, and non-dental health care providers can introduce families to very useful nutritional and dental practices. © 2009, SAGE Publications. All rights reserved.