New data says tooth decay remains a major problem for kids in the tri-state - and across the nation.

The data reveals that more than half of elementary school-aged children have cavities. Dr. Thomas Ison is one of the nation's top authorities on children's oral health and the president of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.

He says the impact goes far beyond the mouth and that every year, dental problems cause children to miss millions of hours of school. "Over 54 million school hours are lost each year," he says. "It's really sad that we in today's world, we have so many cavities," he says. "It is actually five times more common than asthma."

Dr. Ison says the good news is that tooth decay is one of the most preventable childhood conditions. "We know that if we get children into the pediatric dental office by their age 1 birthday, we can help prevent cavities," he says. Fluoride also plays a key role, even as it continues to be a topic of debate in some local communities. "We know that fluoride is the single most cost-effective manner of preventing dental cavities and early and long-term use of fluoride can reduce long-time dental costs by up to 50%," he says. Dr. Ison says at home, it comes down to consistency, including brushing teeth twice a day.