CDHP Principles on Preventing and Managing Pediatric Dental Caries

Promoting the oral health of children right from the start is the best defense against ongoing,
disruptive and costly care. Tooth decay remains the most common chronic condition of childhood
in the US and is affecting an increasing number of children at the youngest ages. It too often
results in significant functional, educational, and social consequences. Dental caries, the disease
that results in cavities, is preventable and manageable with the right information and skills.
However, if the disease is left untreated it is progressive and can be transmitted from caregiver-tochild.
     Based on 40 years of established science, Children's Dental Health Project (CDHP) holds as
a primary tenant that preventing and managing dental caries are the best strategies for reducing
overall disease burden and improving the oral health of all Americans. Therefore, CDHP’s work is
guided by the following principles to develop, test, and advocate for methods of preventing and
managing pediatric dental disease.