Keith A. King, Ph.D., CHES
Baby bottle tooth decay (BBTD) is a serious
and preventable disease which continues to afflict many children each year.
This type of decay has been associated with increased infections, impaired
nutrition, sleeplessness, low self-esteem, lethargy, and poor concentration
in children. Despite the knowledge of effective techniques that can
reduce its incidence, approximately one to five percent of US children
continue to suffer from BBTD. The strategies to prevent its occurrence
are basic and straightforward; however, the methodology with which to reach
individuals at highest risk is more complex. Therefore, BBTD educational
campaigns are called upon. This article describes one such campaign,
Healthy Smiles, which was developed and implemented as a means to combat
this problem. It is a hope that the strategies utilized in this project
can be helpful to other health educators and program developers seeking
to address BBTD.
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To find out more information
regarding this program, contact: Dr.
Keith A. King.