A new report from the Pew Center on the States says most states, including Pennsylvania, lag on dental sealants that can be a key factor in preventing tooth decay in children.

Pennsylvania received a “D.” The Pew study graded states on these benchmarks: having sealant programs in high-need schools; allowing hygienists to place sealants in school-based programs without requiring a dentist’s exam; collecting data regularly about the dental health of school-children and submitting it to a national oral health database and meeting a national health objective on sealants.

“For several decades now we’ve known that sealants prevent tooth decay and we also for several decades have had experience reaching the most high-risk children with school-based programs,” said Bill Maas policy advisor for the Pew Children’s Dental Campaign.

The report “Falling Short: Most States Lag on Dental Sealants” was published today.

20 states and Washington, D.C. received a “D” or “F” while five states were awarded an “A.”   Maine and New Hampshire scored the highest point totals possible.

Federal officials had set a goal for public health known as Healthy People 2010.  The goals included applying seals to the molars of at least 50 percent of children. Pennsylvania was behind on that goal.

Public health advocates and medical studies cite dental care as one of the greatest unmet health needs among U.S. children, especially from low-income families who are more likely than their middle-class and wealthy counterparts to experience cavities and tooth decay. In addition to the health aspects of this, there is also an economic aspect—much of the care for low-income children is publicly-subsidized.

More than 15 million Medicaid-enrolled children did not see a dentist in 2010. Maas says this initiative is a way for states who have had Medicaid-funding problems such as Pennsylvania can still increase the public-health status of its young citizens.

“Regardless of how well the Medicaid program is working this is a public health strategy reaching the same children and relying on the Medicaid program to sustain the program. So they do work hand in hand,” said Maas.

Pennsylvania did do a state survey and used to submit it to a national oral health database – but that information hasn’t been collected in years.

“Those data are not recent, they are older than five years old; which is the standard that the CDC and Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors has said if its older than five years old than its really not very useful in making current policy. So in that regard, Pennsylvania has gone backwards,” he said.

Maas also says Pennsylvania has few restrictions on dental hygienists in the schools.

“The rules are set for a good program and yet we have learned that less than 25 percent of the schools that have high concentration of low-income children are receiving this service.”

The Pew study recommends dental sealants, clear plastic coatings that are applied to the chewing surface of molars and help prevent cavities. They are typically applied when children’s permanent teeth come in and are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In previous years, the Pew Children’s Dental Campaign has released reports grading the states on the state of Children’s Dental Health and Emergency Room Treatment Numbers for Dental Needs in Children. Pennsylvania did not fair well in either of those reports.

Here’s something interesting to consider: your mouth is a door to your body. Everything that constitutes your body has come in from your mouth, whether it is food, liquids or bacteria. Bad and harmful bacteria, which are located in dental plaque, cannot be removed only by brushing alone, and if it remains in your mouth, it can find its way into your body!

Plaque is a soft and white accumulation of micro-organisms. It contains about 400 different species of bacteria, and billions of individual germs in each milligram of plaque. Most of these germs are harmful, but some can be damaging for the teeth or the gums when they gather in thick layers.

Dentists and dental hygienists always insist on the importance of flossing, and recommend doing it twice a day. Here are 6 very good reasons why you should listen to them:

1. To prevent tooth decay

Dental plaque can cause cavities if it’s left between teeth. When mixed with sugar, the bacteria that live in plaque can start the process of tooth decay. This is why it’s bad for plaque to be left in your mouth. Brushing alone does not clean in between teeth, only dental floss can remove plaque in those areas.

2. To prevent gum disease

Gingivitis (inflammation of gums) is the first stage of gum disease (periodontal disease). It is caused by an accumulation of plaque around gums and between teeth. Plaque also contains bacteria that are harmful for the gums. Flossing is therefore important to remove all plaque accumulated after a meal.

3. To prevent halitosis

Dental plaque is one of the causes of halitosis, and if it’s left between your teeth, it will generate a bad smell in your mouth. This odour comes from the metabolism of the bacteria contained in plaque. Bad breath can also be caused by gum disease and tooth decay which are also primarily caused by plaque.

4. To prevent tartar build-up

Tartar is actually dental plaque that has become hard from the saliva’s calcifying action. Good oral hygiene measures, which include brushing and flossing, can slow down the accumulation of tartar, but does not actually remove it. Some people produce tartar more than others. Regular dental cleanings are recommended to remove tartar.

5. To reduce the risk of heart disease

As mentioned earlier, the mouth is an entry point to harmful bacteria that may eventually reach the body organs, including cardiac tissue. Dental plaque, which contains dangerous bacteria, must be therefore eliminated to prevent those micro-organisms to reach the heart through the blood stream and cause heart disease complications.

6. To avoid the complications of diabetes

There is scientific evidence that people who suffer from diabetes can have their condition complicated by gum disease. Diabetics usually have a weaker immune system and take more time to fight inflammations and infections, including the ones that start in the mouth. That’s why oral hygiene, which includes daily brushing and flossing, is very important to prevent diseases, or disease complications, such as diabetes.