READING, PA (October 29, 2019) – With Halloween and its associated candy and sugar nearly upon us, parents and caregivers should make sure their children are adequately caring for their teeth and mouths. Otherwise, poor oral health practices could haunt them for the rest of their lives.

To help them, the Berks County Task Force for Oral Health has established BrushUpBerks.com.

Advice specifically for parents and tip sheets in English and Spanish can be found here.

BrushUpBerks is a resource to help parents and caregivers provide better oral health to young children. By focusing on young children in Berks County, we’re catching them at the most vulnerable age for oral health issues, establishing healthy practices, and beginning to curb the county’s poor dental health issues.

When kids in Berks County do not see a dentist until after they are three years old, they risk having more challenging health issues that can affect them for the rest of their lives.

It is critical for children under the age of three to see a dentist to prevent tooth decay and infections that can cause pain, difficulty with speech, challenges with eating and drinking, problems succeeding in school, and lifelong health issues. All of these conditions will lead to increased health care costs for families.

The Berks County Task Force for Oral Health is committed to increasing the number of parents and caregivers who understand the importance of their children’s oral health. The task force is a community-driven effort convened by the Berks County Community Foundation to turn the tide on the county’s poor oral health.