Dental care & oral hygiene

Dental hygiene and oral health are often taken for granted but are essential parts of our everyday lives.

Tooth decay (cavities) is a common problem for people of all ages. For children, untreated cavities can cause pain, absence from school, difficulty concentrating on learning, and poor appearance, all problems that greatly affect quality of life and ability to succeed. Children from lower income families often do not receive timely treatment for tooth decay and are more likely to suffer from these problems. Tooth decay also is a problem for many adults. Adults of some racial and ethnic groups experience more untreated decay.