Why It’s Never Too Early to Begin Brushing Your Child’s Teeth

(Salt Lake City) - For those who think cavities affect only school-aged kids, think again. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Association says about 40% of children ages 2 through 5 have cavities.  This may be a sign that children are either not brushing enough, or aren’t brushing the right way.  But there are many things parents and caregivers can do to prevent tooth decay in children.

The Utah Department of Health (UDOH) Oral Health Program (OHP) recommends parents start cleaning baby’s mouth even before the first tooth pushes through the gum. “The human mouth is full of billions of bacteria,” says the program’s Michelle Martin, RDH. “Sugar, acid and bacteria are what start the process of decay,” Michelle adds.  “So wet a soft, clean washcloth and clean the tooth and the gums every day. When a few more teeth start coming in, that’s when you buy an infant brush and use it for two minutes twice a day on every surface of every tooth.” 

Other important tips for infants and children include:

• Parents should brush their child’s teeth. It’s ok for the child to practice brushing daily with a parent’s help.

• When children are old enough to tie their shoes, they’re ready to brush their teeth on their own. 

• Remind children they don’t need to brush hard. Instead, show them how to brush softly in a circular motion. Electric and battery-powered toothbrushes are great for helping to remove plaque. 

• Avoid giving children sodas and other sugary drinks. Encourage more water. 

• Use only water in sippy cups.

• Everyone in the family should floss once a day. Place a container of it in the shower and encourage everyone to floss there.

• Don’t share spoons or forks with children. Bacteria spread that way.

• NEVER put a child to bed with a bottle. The sugar in milk starts the process of decay. NEVER put anything in a bottle but milk, water or formula.

February is Children’s Dental Health month, and experts say it’s a reminder that children of all ages need to be good caretakers of their teeth. Kim Michelson, DDS, State Dental Director, Utah Department of Health, says tooth decay is the most common chronic disease among children ages 6 to 11 years. “The good news," Michelson says, "is it’s very preventable if you just brush and floss your teeth daily.”  Michelson recommends children see their dentist every six months, starting at age one.

 

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Media Contacts:

Michelle Martin

(o) 801-273-2876

Kim Michelson, DDS

801-273-2877

 

UDOH Employee to Share Story of Treating Ebola in Africa

WHAT: Dr. Angela Dunn, a CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer currently assigned to the Utah Department of Health (UDOH), will share her story of responding to the Ebola epidemic in Sierra Leone. Dr. Dunn traveled to Sierra Leone in October 2014, and spent four weeks battling the Ebola outbreak. 

She will share her experience during a brown bag presentation for UDOH employees, which members of the media are also invited to attend.

WHY: Nearly 23,000 people in West Africa have been diagnosed with Ebola, and more than 9,100 of them have died as part of the current outbreak. Sierra Leone has been hit especially hard, with nearly 11,000 cases and more than 3,300 deaths.   

WHO: Angela Dunn, MD MPH

CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer assigned to the UDOH

WHEN: Today, February 12, 2015

Noon 

WHERE: Utah Department of Health

                Room 114

                288 North 1460 West

                Salt Lake City, UT 84116

**Note: Dr. Dunn’s presentation will include photos of patients who have not signed release forms for their images to be used in media reports. Please refrain from taking photographs or video that would identify patients. There will be several photographs presented that do not identify patients.**

 

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Contact:

Tom Hudachko

Public Information Officer

(o) 801-538-6232

(m) 801-560-4649

 

New Data Show Family, Religious Activity Protect Youth from Suicide Ideation

(Salt Lake City, UT) – A new report from the Utah Department of Health (UDOH) showed that in 2013, 14.1% of students in grades 8, 10, and 12 reported that during the past year they had seriously considered suicide. However, students who had positive family environments and attended religious services weekly were less likely to have considered suicide. 

“We tend to focus on risk factors when we talk about suicide prevention,” said Jenny Johnson with the UDOH Violence and Injury Prevention Program. “But for the first time, we have Utah-specific data that pinpoints factors that can protect youth from suicide. Prevention efforts should focus on improving family communication and relationships.”

The report compared the effects of positive peer, school, community, and family environments and found that, of these, only the family environment had a significant effect on suicide ideation. Students who had a positive family environment were 25% less likely to report suicide ideation. Positive family factors included if youth felt that their parents considered their input in making family decisions, that they had opportunities to do fun things together as a family, and that they felt they could ask their parents for help when they had a personal problem. Having family meals together five or more days a week also lowered the risk of suicide ideation by half. 

“Sixty-percent of students surveyed reported they attended religious services or activities once or more a week,” said Johnson. “These youth were about half as likely to have considered suicide. Even among those who’d had an episode of depression in the previous year, religious involvement was still protective.”  

The data come from the Prevention Needs Assessment (PNA), Utah’s largest school health and risk behavior survey. The PNA survey is conducted every two years in public and charter schools throughout the state to assess health-related behaviors and factors among students in grades 8, 10, and 12. 

“Suicide can be difficult to talk about,” said Kimberly Myers, Suicide Prevention Coordinator with the Utah Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health. “But it doesn’t have to be and you don’t have to do it alone.  Everyone plays a role in suicide prevention. Learn the warning signs, reach out to others who are struggling, call the crisis lines, and ultimately, collective efforts in these areas can save a life.”

In 2013, suicide surpassed unintentional injuries to become the leading cause of death among youth ages 10–19 in Utah. On average, 37 youth in Utah die from suicide and 942 are injured in a suicide attempt each year. 

The report also identified risk factors for youth suicide ideation, including:

    •   Students who had been bullied more than once during the previous year (18.6%) were more than four times more likely to have seriously considered suicide.

    •   Students who had been bullied electronically (15.9%) were four and a half times more likely to have considered suicide. Students who had been bullied both at school and electronically two or more days out of the past year were at an especially high risk; 5.8 times more likely to have considered suicide. 

    •   Students who used video games or computers for non-school-related activities for three or more hours per day (24.8%) were about twice as likely to have seriously considered suicide compared to those who had used electronics two or fewer hours per day.

All suicidal thoughts, behaviors, and attempts should be taken seriously. Get help 24/7 by calling the UNI CrisisLine at 801-587-3000 or the National Suicide Prevention LifeLine at 1-800-273-TALK. Help is also available atwww.suicidepreventionlifeline.org.  

The report can be downloaded at http://goo.gl/I7nMS8.

For more information on suicide prevention visit http://www.health.utah.gov/vipp or http://utahsuicideprevention.org/

 

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Third Utah Resident Tests Positive for Measles

(Salt Lake City, UT) – A third Utah County resident has tested positive for measles. The individual is under the age of 18 and was in contact with the two people who became ill after traveling to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park in mid-December. This person was unimmunized, but did receive an MMR vaccine after the original cases became ill.  The three Utah cases are part of a larger outbreak being investigated in California. 

The new case was under quarantine during their infectious period, and as a result, would not have exposed anyone else to the virus.  

For more information about the current outbreak, visit: www.health.utah.gov/measles.

The best way to protect yourself and your family from measles – as well as many other preventable diseases – is to be fully immunized. Children and adults can receive vaccinations for diseases such as measles, pertussis, and influenza, which protect not only themselves, but helps to limit the spread of disease in the community.  

 

For general information on vaccines and vaccine preventable diseases, please visit http://www.immunize-utah.org/, or call the Utah Department of Health Immunization hotline at 1-800-275-0659, or your local health department.

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Media Contact:

Lance Madigan

Utah County Health Department

385-204-4627

Rebecca Ward
Utah Department of Health
801-352-1270

 

Two Utah Residents Test Positive for Measles

(Salt Lake City, UT) – Two Utah County residents have tested positive for measles after traveling to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park in mid-December, where public health officials believe they were exposed to the virus. The two Utah cases are part of a larger outbreak being investigated in California. Public health officials there have confirmed seven total cases along with three suspect cases during the time period of December 15-20, 2014.

Individuals who came into contact with the two Utah cases may also have been exposed to the virus and public health officials are working to track down and notify these people. 

The infected individuals in Utah County would have been contagious from December 27, 2014 through January 5, 2015 and attended several events during the infectious period. Public health is urging anyone who was present at any of the following locations at the specified dates and times to contact the Utah Poison Control Center, which is screening individuals for potential exposure, at 1-800-456-7707, or visit the web site www.health.utah.gov/measles:

• FRIDAY, 12/26/14 - MACEY’S GROCERY STORE, OREM , 5:00 P.M. - 11:00 P.M.

• FRIDAY, 12/26/14 - CINEMARK MOVIES 8, PROVO, 4:00 P.M. - 8 P.M.

• FRIDAY, 12/26/14 - CARMIKE WYNNSONG 12, PROVO, 10:00 P.M. TO CLOSING

• SUNDAY, 12/28/14 - GENEVA HEIGHTS LDS CHURCH BUILDING, 847 WEST 800 NORTH, OREM, 12:30 P.M. - 7:00 P.M.

• MONDAY, 12/29/14 - WALMART, SANDHILL ROAD, OREM, 9:00 P.M. - 11:00 P.M.

• FRIDAY, 1/2/15 - OREM COMMUNITY HOSPITAL, EAST ENTRANCE LOBBY, LAB OR GIFT SHOP, OREM, 4:30 P.M. -  7:00 P.M.

• SATURDAY, 1/3/15 - TIMPANOGOS REGIONAL HOSPITAL, ER WAITING ROOM AND REGISTRATION DESK, OREM, 12:30 P.M. TO 3:30 P.M.

• SATURDAY, 1/3/15 - TIMPANOGOS REGIONAL HOSPITAL LAB WAITING ROOM, OREM, 1:30 P.M. - 3:30 P.M.  

• SUNDAY, 1/4/15 - TIMPANOGOS REGIONAL HOSPITAL LAB WAITING ROOM, OREM , 1:45 P.M. - 3:45 P.M. 

Public health officials need to know if people at these locations during the specified times are fully vaccinated in order to implement appropriate measures to contain the outbreak. 

Individuals who were exposed to the virus and are not fully vaccinated will be asked to quarantine themselves in their homes until their infectious period has passed. This means no school, work, church, travel, outside contacts or community events for 21 days from the date of exposure to an infected individual.

To achieve maximum protection from the measles, individuals must receive two doses of the MMR vaccine. Those who haven’t had two doses, or those who aren’t sure if they are fully immunized, should contact their health care provider or their local health department. It is especially important for pregnant women, infants and people with weakened immune systems to be protected as these individuals may develop more severe illness.

Symptoms of measles include a fever of 101°F or higher, cough, runny nose and a rash that spreads to cover the body. The rash usually occurs within two weeks of exposure. The virus is transmitted by respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing, and is so contagious that 90 percent of people in close contact with an infectious person will get the disease if they’re not immunized.

If you develop symptoms, call your health care provider and let them know you may have the measles. It is important that you do not visit a physician’s office, emergency room, lab or any medical clinic without first calling the facility and informing them of your exposure to measles. This will enable the facility to take the necessary precautions to protect other individuals from possible exposure.  

The best way to protect yourself and your family from measles – as well as many other preventable diseases – is to be fully immunized. Children and adults can receive vaccinations for diseases such as measles, pertussis, and influenza, which protect not only themselves, but helps to limit the spread of disease in the community.  For general information on vaccines and vaccine preventable diseases, please visit http://www.immunize-utah.org/, or call the Utah Department of Health Immunization hotline at 1-800-275-0659, or your local health department.

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Media Contacts:

Rebecca Ward, Utah Department of Health

(o) 801.538.6682

(c) 801.352.1270

Lance Madigan, Utah County Health Department

(phone/text) 385.204.4627