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1 in 3 Florida third graders have untreated cavities – how parents can protect their children’s teeth

The Conversation
Summary
Nutrition label

85% Informative

Florida ranks among the worst states in the U.S. for dental care access, with over 5.9 million residents living in dental care shortage areas.

Florida ranks 43rd out of 50 states in percentage of children receiving dental care in the past year .

Only 37% of Florida third graders had dental sealants, compared to 51% nationwide.

Children should see a dentist by their first birthday or within six months of their first tooth.

After that, annual visits help catch problems early, when treatment is easier and less expensive.

For families in areas with few dental providers, parents can ask their child’s pediatrician for referrals.

VR Score

86

Informative language

86

Neutral language

39

Article tone

semi-formal

Language

English

Language complexity

49

Offensive language

not offensive

Hate speech

not hateful

Attention-grabbing headline

not detected

Known propaganda techniques

not detected

Time-value

medium-lived

External references

39

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