Mar 04 2008
Take prevention to get rid of dental cavities in children
Mar 4: The most worrying ailment that affects children is none other than dental cavities. Children are more prone to this disease as their milk teeth are not capable of resisting the cavity causing germs. The findings of a study conducted by the Centre for Disease Control Division of Health revealed that more than 50 percent of the children belonging to the age group of 5 to 9 have had a minimum of one cavity or filling. At least 78 percent of 17 years olds have been affected by tooth decay. The statistics also revealed that the children and adolescents living in poverty stands two fold chance of getting affected by tooth decay than the children from well-to-do family.
Developing cavities is not a simple issue it will gradually affect the health of the children. Initially it cause pain, affects their speech, self image and gradually affects the overall health of the children. So, due importance has to be given. Another interesting fact is that the dental related illness is considered as the reason behind 51 million missed school hours per year. With the development in the field of dentistry 90 percent of tooth decay is preventable by simply following healthy diet and by giving proper care to your teeth and gums. These measures have to be taken right from the young age.
“Dental cavities in children are more common than asthma. Prevention is the best way to get rid of it. Visiting the dentist right from the age of one will help in identifying the problem when it is at the developing stage. Following proper dental health care and visiting dentist at frequent intervals will effectively restrict the dental problems.” said Dr. Deborah Studen-Pavlovich, professor and chairman of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry in the University Of Pittsburgh School Of Dental Medicine.
Parents should have to take special care during the first few years to help the children get rid of the problems posed by dental cavities. Babies should not be allowed to fall asleep with bottles of milk, juice or other sugary liquids in their mouth. As the child sleep the salivary secretion process becomes slower and that allows the sugary liquids to deposit on the teeth and gums and that leads to tooth decay.
