The Lifelong Impact of Childhood Oral Health: A Life Course Perspective

February marks National Children’s Dental Health Month, prompting us to examine how early dental care shapes not just childhood health, but long-term wellbeing throughout adulthood and into senior years. Taking a “life course health” perspective reveals that the dental habits we establish in childhood ripple throughout our entire lives.

Starting Early: The Foundation of Lifelong Oral Health

Consider this striking fact: your first permanent teeth emerge around age 6, potentially remaining with you until age 90 and beyond. This illustrates why the American Dental Association recommends initial dental visits between the appearance of the first tooth (around 6 months) and the first birthday. 

As practitioners it is common to silo patients into their current age bracket as pediatrics, adults or older adults.  Taking the “life course health”¹ perspective allows us to consider the patient who is currently a child, as someone who will eventually become an adult and then go on to become an older adult.  In addition to the goals of pediatric oral health that include development of strong teeth, prevention of caries and periodontal disease, interventions to discourage smoking use and dietary counseling will have long term benefits over the life course.  As a dental team with patient touch points every six months it is likely that most children form longer lasting, community based relationships with their dental team than with other members of the medical community¹.   

In Children’s Dental Health month dentists of patients all ages should give attention to the role that interventions in late childhood and adolescence have on a patient’s potential for lifetime tobacco use².  The long-term consequences of tobacco use on systemic health, and the oral impacts of stained teeth, periodontal disease and increased risk of oral cancer are easier to prevent with interventions geared toward youth, than working on smoking cessation therapy once the habit begins.

Beyond Just Healthy Teeth

Research demonstrates that childhood oral health impacts far more than just dental wellness. Poor oral health in youth correlates with:

• Increased risk of heart disease in adulthood
• Higher likelihood of developing periodontal diseases
• Broader systemic health complications
• Decreased academic performance, even when accounting for demographic factors

Childhood oral health is also related to academic performance.  Studies show that even when adjusting for demographic factors, poor oral health is related to worse academic outcomes³.  Further research is needed to expand upon this research to see how the poor oral health and academic outcomes relate to the long term academic and professional success of our patients in their older years.  In February, as we bring attention to Children’s Dental and Oral Health, it is important to discuss the long-term goals of this campaign which is to create a long-lasting impact on the oral and systemic health of all our patients across the lifespan.

Prevention Strategies

Parents and caregivers should focus on the following preventive measures:

• Supervised brushing with appropriate amounts of fluoride toothpaste (rice-sized for under 2, pea-sized for ages 2-6)
• Professional assistance with brushing until around age 8, or until children can tie their shoes and write their name
• Regular dental check-ups for early problem detection
• Consideration of dental sealants for high-risk teeth
• Maintaining a balanced, low-sugar diet
• HPV vaccination between ages 11-12, which significantly reduces the risk of developing oropharyngeal cancers later in life (ages 40-50+)⁴

Looking Ahead: The Broader Impact

As dental professionals, we’re uniquely positioned to influence health outcomes across the lifespan. Regular dental visits every six months often create stronger community relationships than with other healthcare providers. This consistent contact allows us to address crucial health factors beyond basic oral care, such as tobacco use prevention in adolescence – an intervention that’s far more effective than adult cessation programs⁵.

This February let’s remember that children’s dental health isn’t just about preventing cavities today – it’s about setting the foundation for a lifetime of overall health and wellbeing. The investments we make in pediatric oral health today yield returns that last well into the golden years.

References

1. Crall JJ, Forrest CB. A Life Course Health Development Perspective on Oral Health. 2017 May 19. In: Halfon N, Forrest CB, Lerner RM, Faustman EM, editors. Handbook of Life Course Health Development [Internet]. Cham (CH): Springer; 2018. PMID: 31314282.
2. Goel D, Chaudhary PK, Khan A, Patthi B, Singla A, Malhi R, Gambhir RS. Acquaintance and Approach in the Direction of Tobacco Cessation Among Dental Practitioners-A Systematic Review. Int J Prev Med. 2020 Oct 5;11:167. doi: 10.4103/ijpvm.IJPVM_316_19. PMID: 33312476; PMCID: PMC7716613.
3. Guarnizo-Herreño CC, Lyu W, Wehby GL. Children’s Oral Health and Academic Performance: Evidence of a Persisting Relationship Over the Last Decade in the United States. J Pediatr. 2019 Jun;209:183-189.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2019.01.045. Epub 2019 Mar 26. PMID: 30926152; PMCID: PMC6667186.
4. D’Souza G, Lewandowski L, Zhang Y, et al. Prophylactic HPV Vaccination and Reduced Risk for Oropharyngeal Cancer: A Nationwide Study. JAMA Oncol. 2024;10(1):57–64. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2023.5068
5. Spanemberg JC, Cardoso JA, Slob EMGB, López-López J. Quality of life related to oral health and its impact in adults. J Stomatol Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2019 Jun;120(3):234-239. doi: 10.1016/j.jormas.2019.02.004. Epub 2019 Feb 11. PMID: 30763780.