WHEREAS, In California, tooth decay remains a significant public health problem. By the third grade, 7 in 10 children have experienced tooth decay, and 1 in 5 children have untreated tooth decay; and

WHEREAS, Tooth decay disparities related to race or ethnicity, or both, and socioeconomic status continue to exist in California and undermine health equity. Among Latinx children, 72 percent have experienced some form of tooth decay. African American children between three and five years of age experience untreated tooth decay at a rate of 36.8 percent, while African American children between six and nine years of age experience untreated tooth decay at a rate of 55.6 percent. Among children who are socioeconomically disadvantaged, 72.3 percent experience tooth decay and 26 percent experience untreated tooth decay; and

WHEREAS, Untreated cavities can cause pain and infections that may lead to problems with eating, speaking, playing, and learning. California children miss 874,000 days of school each year, collectively, due to dental problems, costing schools over $29,000,000 from a reduction in daily attendance rates; and

WHEREAS, Tooth decay is the number one chronic infectious disease affecting children in the United States, although it is largely preventable. Early dental visits help prevent cavities and tooth decay. Basic preventive treatments like fluoride varnish, dental sealants, and community water fluoridation can all help prevent cavities in primary (baby) teeth. Early infant dental visits are key to long-term oral health, as studies have shown that delaying dental care to even two or three years of age can have a negative impact on a child’s oral health. In one survey, up to 40 percent of parents and caregivers were found to have postponed their child’s first visit until after 2.6 years of age; and

WHEREAS, California has made significant investments in recent years to improve the oral health infrastructure in the state, including efforts to increase preventive dental services and improve dental health for children enrolled in Medi-Cal. These recent improvements have resulted in a 34-percent increase, or 3,300 providers, in Medi-Cal dental program providers since 2017, and that rate is increasing each year; and

WHEREAS, Access to fluoride is essential for children’s oral health because it helps strengthen tooth enamel, making it more resistant to tooth decay. Regular exposure to fluoride through toothpaste, drinking water, or professional treatments can significantly reduce the risk of cavities and prevent early tooth loss; and

WHEREAS, Despite this expanded access, barriers to oral health care still exist; and

WHEREAS, Many Californians experience delayed dental care, exacerbating access-to-care issues for children’s oral health. In fact, approximately 50 percent of all children enrolled by Medi-Cal visited a dentist last year; and

WHEREAS, Increased awareness of the importance of children’s oral health will continue to further educational goals and efforts to prevent childhood oral health diseases; and

WHEREAS, Children’s Dental Health Month is an important nationwide tool for raising awareness about the importance of childhood oral health and the role it plays in children’s overall health among California’s leaders, policymakers, and the public, as well as about the impact of poor oral health on children; now, therefore, be it