Monday, February 07, 2005

Major Problem Continues to be Tooth Decay



You’ve brought your one-year-old to the pediatrician many times, the child has received all the necessary shots, and you’ve obtained helpful information from the doctor.

But have you brought the child to the dentist?

February is National Children’s Dental Month, and with that in mind, it’s important to remember to care for your child’s teeth. However, many Americans, for one reason or another, fail to do this.

According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, one in 10 children five to 11 years old has never been to a dentist; close to half of all children have cavities by the age of seven; and tooth decay accounts for the primary cause of tooth loss in kids.

Also, 25 percent of American youths have 80 percent of the cavities.

The academy recommends that the first visit to a dentist should be when the child is still a baby, between six months and 1 year old, soon after the first tooth comes in.

Read the rest of the article here.

Amazing to me that I am treating increasing (read increading not decreasing!!) numbers of carious teeth after all of the public education regarding nutrition, hygiene and professional care.

A damn shame really!

No comments:

Post a Comment