Children Receive Free Dental Health Kits at NASCAR Event

During "SpeedFest," which took place on March 12th, the younger NASCAR fans learned how to improve their oral health and score free oral health kits.  Nearly 7,000 area children enjoyed the festivities. The SpeedFest kits include a card with oral health tips, together with a toothbrush, toothpaste and Henry Schein dental floss.

The program is an annual initiative of American Dental Association, where children from low-income families across the United States get free oral health care services. This year, more than 12,000 dentists nationwide are expected to provide free oral health care to almost 400,000 under served children.

Ameritas Group Funds for Oral Cancer Research

Not so long ago, the University of Nebraska Foundation was given a $250,000 gift commitment by The Ameritas Group (a division of Ameritas Life Insurance Corporation). The money was destined for the establishment of a permanent endowment in support of the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) College of Dentistry. The fund is also known to provide financial support every year, for "research focused on preventing, detecting and treating oral cancer."

NovaMin Technology Added to Major Toothpaste Line

At the beginning of this year, an Associate Professor at the University of Maryland Dental School, Gary Hack, DDS stated that for the first time, millions of Americans will have a possibility to protect their teeth with "NovaMin," in everyday dental products.

"To know that our invention will now have a positive impact globally on dental pain and help those individuals suffering from sensitive teeth is very rewarding," says Hack.

Not so long ago, consumer health care company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) made an announcement claiming that they had found a dental formulation, which is the first to contain patented NovaMin technology designed to repair sensitive teeth.

Dental Care As Your Child Grows

As children grow up, the American Dental Association (ADA) advises parents to pay close attention to what kinds of products their children are eating and drinking. It's no secret that the nutrition we take in not only affects our general health, but our oral health as well. In addition, the American Dental Association warns that a diet high in sugar may very well be cause for significant damage not only to children's teeth,  but to adults teeth as well.  Sugar-coated teeth become a breeding ground for bacteria; which then produces acid.  It is this acid that eats away at  the enamel on our teeth.

In order to reduce the risks of childhood tooth decay, the ADA gives the following suggestion's:

Steps To Help Ensure Your Child's Bright Smile

In accordance with the U.S. Surgeon General, tooth decay is considered to be the most common, chronic childhood disease; taking into account the fact that more than 40% of American youngsters experience tooth decay before they are 5 years old. In order to avoid this outcome, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) encourages parents "to bring [their] offspring to a pediatric dentist by the time their baby's first tooth appears." In addition, the AAPD claims that the dental costs for children who have their first dental visit by the time the child is five years old, are nearly 40% less expenisve and evidently more effective than for those children who are older.

For parents of infants, the Academy makes the following recommendations: