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Equity

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Children’s Oral Health

“Cavities (also known as caries or tooth decay) are one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood in the United States. Untreated cavities can cause pain and infections that may lead to problems with eating, speaking, playing, and learning. Children who have poor oral health often miss more school and receive lower grades than children who don’t.

  • “About 1 of 5 (20%) children aged 5 to 11 years have at least one untreated decayed tooth.
  • “1 of 7 (13%) adolescents aged 12 to 19 years have at least one untreated decayed tooth.
  • “Children aged 5 to 19 years from low-income families are twice as likely (25%) to have cavities, compared with children from higher-income households (11%).”