Addressing Children's Oral & Airway Health Before the School Year: An Oral Systemic Perspective
As the new school year approaches, ensuring children are healthy and ready to learn is paramount. This article explores the critical importance of addressing dental, oral, airway, and sleep health issues in children from an oral systemic perspective. It examines the impact of these health issues on absenteeism, behavior problems, dental caries, and sleep disturbances and underscores the need for early intervention and comprehensive care.
Off on the Right Note - Starting Healthy
The start of a new school year presents an opportunity for parents and educators to prioritize children’s health, particularly dental, oral, airway, and sleep health. These interconnected aspects significantly influence a child’s overall well-being and academic performance. Early intervention in these areas can prevent a host of problems affecting a child’s ability to succeed in school.
The Connection Between Oral and Systemic Health
Oral health is intrinsically linked to overall health. Poor oral health can lead to systemic conditions and exacerbate existing health issues. For children, untreated dental problems can result in pain, infections, and difficulties with eating, speaking, and learning (American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, 2021).
Dental Caries and School Performance
Dental caries is the most common chronic disease among children. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 20% of children aged 5 to 11 years have at least one untreated decayed tooth. This untreated decay can cause significant pain and infections, leading to school absences and difficulty concentrating in class (CDC, 2024). Children with poor oral health are three times more likely to miss school due to dental pain, leading to reduced academic performance and social challenges (Jackson et al., 2011).
Absenteeism and Behavioral Issues
Absenteeism due to dental problems is a significant concern. Research indicates that children with poor oral health miss more school days and are likelier to have lower grades than their peers with good oral health (Jackson et al., 2011). Furthermore, dental pain and discomfort can lead to behavioral issues, as children may become irritable, withdrawn, or exhibit disruptive behaviors due to the chronic discomfort they experience (Blumenshine et al., 2008).
Airway Health and Sleep Issues
Airway health and sleep quality are crucial for a child's development. Conditions such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can severely impact a child's sleep quality, leading to daytime sleepiness, attention deficits, and learning difficulties (Marcus et al., 2012). Studies have shown that children with OSA are more likely to exhibit behavioral problems and have difficulties in school due to the fragmented sleep they experience (Beebe, 2011). Addressing airway obstructions, often through orthodontic or surgical interventions, can significantly improve sleep quality and, consequently, daytime functioning.
Early Intervention and Comprehensive Care
Addressing these health issues before the school year begins is essential. Early dental visits, regular check-ups, and timely treatment of dental caries can prevent complications and promote better health outcomes (American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, 2021). Similarly, screening for sleep-related breathing disorders and managing them effectively can enhance a child’s cognitive and behavioral performance (Kheirandish-Gozal & Gozal, 2016).
Conclusion
Ensuring children are healthy and ready to learn requires a comprehensive approach addressing dental, oral, airway, and sleep health issues. By prioritizing these aspects before the start of the school year, parents and healthcare providers can help reduce absenteeism, prevent behavior problems, and improve academic performance. Integrating oral and systemic health is crucial for fostering a supportive and effective learning environment for children.
AAOSH Resources
One of the 14 areas of the AAOSH Core Curriculum is Pediatric Health, Airway, and Sleep Disorders. AAOSH offers courses featuring various co-current topics - from maintaining a healthy heart and lungs through proper oral care to ensuring your best night’s sleep through treating breathing disorders. We hope you will enjoy this sample course from our core curriculum. (Please Note: This is a sample course; watching this video here does not provide CE credit. Please visit members.aaosh.org to search for these courses and earn CE credit.)
How Diet and Dietary Habits Impact ENT and Systemic Health in Children
Presented by: Julie Wei, MD
Original Presentation Date: August, 23, 2020
Course Description:
Join us for an engaging lecture exploring the intricate relationship between diet, acid reflux, and pediatric health. Delve into the prevalence of acid reflux in children, triggered by excessive dairy and sugar consumption, resulting in chronic ENT symptoms and often leading to overmedication and misdiagnosis. Understand the profound impact of dietary habits on systemic inflammation associated with acid reflux. Through a comprehensive analysis, gain insights into how dietary counseling and specific dietary modifications can serve as effective interventions, alleviating chronic symptoms and fostering systemic health improvements in children affected by acid reflux. This session will equip you with practical knowledge to address these concerns and optimize pediatric well-being through dietary strategies and counseling approaches.
Learning Objectives:
- Analyze the prevalence of acid reflux among children caused by excessive dairy and sugar intake, leading to chronic ENT symptoms, overmedication, and misdiagnosis.
- Comprehend the influence of diet and dietary habits on systemic inflammation linked to acid reflux.
- Apply knowledge acquired to understand how dietary counseling and dietary changes can effectively alleviate chronic symptoms, promoting systemic health improvements in children affected by acid reflux.
Speaker Bio:
Dr. Julie Wei, an internationally recognized Pediatric Otolaryngologist, acclaimed speaker, and author of A Healthier Wei, advocates for children's health by addressing what she terms the "Milk and Cookie Disease" (MCD). She challenges the misdiagnosis and overmedication of children experiencing symptoms like runny noses, allergies, and sore throats. Combining Eastern and Western medicine insights, Dr. Wei has successfully guided numerous children toward healthier lifestyles. She aims to empower global communities through simple dietary and lifestyle adjustments, revolutionizing approaches to children's health and well-being. She seeks to redefine the concept of illness, emphasizing the importance of non-medical interventions in addressing chronic health issues in children.
References
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. (2021). Policy on early childhood caries (ECC): Classifications, consequences, and preventive strategies. Pediatric Dentistry, 43(6), 15-16. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27931420/
Beebe, D. W. (2011). Cognitive, behavioral, and functional consequences of inadequate sleep in children and adolescents. Pediatric Clinics of North America, 58(3), 649-665. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcl.2011.03.002
Blumenshine, S. L., Vann, W. F., Gizlice, Z., & Lee, J. Y. (2008). Children's school performance: Impact of general and oral health. Journal of Public Health Dentistry, 68(2), 82-87. doi:10.1111/j.1752-7325.2007.00062.x
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2024). Oral health surveillance report: Trends in dental caries and sealants, tooth retention, and edentulism, United States, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/oral-health/health-equity/index.html
Jackson, S. L., Vann, W. F., Kotch, J. B., Pahel, B. T., & Lee, J. Y. (2011). Impact of poor oral health on children's school attendance and performance. American Journal of Public Health, 101(10), 1900-1906. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2010.200915
Kheirandish-Gozal, L., & Gozal, D. (Eds.). (2012). Sleep-disordered breathing in children: A comprehensive clinical guide to evaluation and treatment. Springer.
Marcus, C. L., Brooks, L. J., Draper, K. A., Gozal, D., Halbower, A. C., Jones, J., Schechter, M. S., Ward, S. D., Sheldon, S. H., Shiffman, R. N., & Lehmann, C. (2012). Diagnosis and management of childhood obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Pediatrics, 130(3), e714-e755. doi:10.1542/peds.2012-1672