LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas - February is National Children’s Dental Health Month (NCDHM) and Delta Dental of Arkansas will travel across the state to support local oral health programs and stress the importance of good oral hygiene to parents and children.

Tooth decay is still the most common chronic childhood disease in the United States. Over 51 million school hours are lost each year due to dental-related illnesses and almost 50 percent of tooth decay remains untreated children from low-income families, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

During National Children's Dental Health Month, the Delta Dental of Arkansas Foundation has planned a series of television and public appearances with the Tooth Fairy designed to educate Arkansans about importance of children’s oral health. They will also provide tips on preventative steps that parents can take to stop oral health problems before they start.  Delta Dental encourages parents to use the Tooth Fairy story as a way to promote good dental care to their children – including daily habits like brushing and flossing.

In addition, the Foundation will award nearly $400,000 worth of community grants to deserving dental clinics and organizations across the state. The grants will touch the lives of many Arkansas by expanding access to dental care for low income children and families and providing emergency dental assistance to cancer and heart transplant patients that require oral services before surgery.

Each year, the Delta Dental of Arkansas Foundation contributes more than $1 million to support programs designed to improve the oral health of Arkansans. To learn more about National Children’s Dental Health Month, visit The American Dental Association website at www.ada.org.