If you spend part of every day Googling a question, tuning into a YouTube video, or checking in with Facebook friends, you’re in good company. The average American spends six-and-a-half hours a day online, a good bit of it on social media. Surveys of online mothers by The Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan American fact think tank that provides information on social issues, public opinion, and trends, showed that more than 80% of moms use social media to share information and support; over 70% give advice and answer questions. Bottom line, parents believe social media is a good source of information and an important part of their parenting tool box. But in a world of 1.94 billion websites (as of January 2019), and 400 million blog posts every single day, it can be hard to figure out what is trustworthy and accurate–especially when it comes to advice about very young children’s health.
While the Internet is an unending source of parenting advice, how do you know you’re getting the right information about very young children’s teeth health? The right information matters. That’s because in the US, 23 percent of children ages two to five have tooth decay. Tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease, affecting a young child’s ability to eat, grow, sleep, speak, learn, play, smile, and hit important developmental milestones. Misinformation can lead to serious consequences, such as delaying much-needed care and treatment, which may affect a child’s ability to thrive.
Who can you trust to help you learn about children’s teeth health? These tips can help:
- Look behind the scenes to see who is funding your favorite parenting blog or website; some sites are paid to “share” information or sell a product. Know what you’re “buying.”
- Check the expert’s background, knowledge, and experience in child health and parenting.
- Check the publication date to make sure the information is up-to-date.
Have a question about young children’s oral health? These trusted sources can provide the latest evidence-based healthcare facts:
- The American Academy of Pediatrics
- The American Association of Pediatric Dentistry
- Federal and state government sites, such as Early Head Start and Head Start, and state and local Departments of Health
- Hospital and university sites, such as Mayo Clinic
- Your trusted healthcare team–the family doctor and dentist
- A professional colleague: your child care health consultant or public health dental hygienist
Want to know three things you can do right now to protect a young child’s healthy smile? Click to see the short video.
