Healthy Smiles: A Multidisciplinary Baby Bottle Tooth Decay Prevention Program

Abstract

Baby bottle tooth decay (BBTD) is a serious and preventable disease which continues to afflict many children each year. This type of decay has been associated with increased infections, impaired nutrition, sleeplessness, low self-esteem, lethargy, and poor concentration in children. Despite the knowledge of effective techniques that can reduce its incidence, approximately one percent to 50 percent of children continue to suffer from it in the United States. The strategies to prevent its occurrence are basic and straightforward; however, the methodology with which to reach individuals at highest risk is more complex. Therefore, BBTD educational campaigns are called upon. This article, in turn, describes one such campaign, Healthy Smiles, which was developed and implemented as a means to combat this problem. Perhaps the strategies utilized in this project can be examined by health educators and program developers as to whether they would be applicable in other such projects throughout the U.S.