Early care and education providers play a critical role in maintaining a child’s health and safety. Many children are in early care and education settings for several hours during the day, which means this can be the primary environment for children to eat, play, and grow. By modeling healthy eating and physically active lifestyles, early care and education providers can set our children on the road to a lifetime of good habits. During National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, learn tips from the Office of Child Care within the Administration for Children and Families for early care and education providers to promote healthy eating and physical activity.

Each month, we release an infographic with the latest data related to a Leading Health Indicator (LHI) topic on Healthy People. These infographics show progress toward Healthy People 2020 LHI targets — and show where there’s still work to be done.

This month’s featured LHI is Oral Health. Check out the infographic below, then head over to the Healthy People 2020 LHI Infographic Gallery to see infographics for other LHI topic areas.…

Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) happens when a person is infected with TB bacteria, but doesn’t get active TB disease. Since people with LTBI don’t feel sick, they may not know they’re infected. But if they don’t get treatment, they can develop TB disease — and pass it to others. That’s why it’s so important for people who are at increased risk for LTBI to get tested.…

Tooth decay is one of the most common chronic conditions affecting children in the United States. When it’s not treated, tooth decay can cause pain and infections — and may interfere with a child’s ability to eat, talk, learn, and play. One evidence-based strategy for preventing tooth decay in children is the use of dental sealants — thin coatings that are painted onto the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. Studies in children show that sealants can reduce tooth decay in permanent molars by 80% for 2 years after placement, and they keep protecting against 50% of cavities for up to 4 years.