WASHINGTON – Only 44 percent of America’s kids brush their teeth every day.
A recent Ad Council survey reveals that 16 million kids suffer from tooth decay, the most common chronic childhood disease in the U.S., .
Tooth decay also opens the door to infections in other parts of the body.
The survey found children spend more than eight hours a day on pointless activities, like playing video games, texting, watching TV and playing games around the house. A small portion of that time could be spent on brushing and flossing, the survey notes.
Kids need a grown-up to show them the ropes when it comes to brushing. That means parents need to help children get the job done until they are at least 4 or 5 and supervise them until brushing their teeth becomes a habit.
Parents need to make sure kids brush their teeth twice a day. Limiting sugary snacks is also important, sending babies to bed with a bottle is a no-no and flossing is a good idea habit to develop early.
The CDC recommends that kids start using a pea-sized dab of toothpaste with fluoride when they are two years old.
草莓传媒’s Rosemary Frisino Toohey contributed to this report. Follow on Twitter.
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