Australia - Drinks blamed for rise in decay

CHILDREN'S drinking habits are being blamed for a looming dental health crisis.
Australian Dental Association Tasmanian president Errol Kilov said recent research had shown tooth decay in six-year-olds had risen by 56 per cent and by a massive 71 per cent among 14- and 15-year-olds in just six years. Dr Kilov said it was the first time in 30 years that children's dental health had deteriorated and drink choices were the main culprit. "Children today are favouring soft drinks or bottled water," Dr Kilov said.
"The soft drinks provide too much sugar and bottled water means children are not getting the essential fluoride which is added to tap water.
"The result is a reversal of the trend of improved dental health we experienced after fluoride was introduced to water systems in the early 1970s."
Dr Kilov said parents and the wider community had a role to play in improving children's oral health. "Just like the child obesity problem, the main need is education," he said. "Parents should be educating their children in both good nutritional and dental health habits. "We also need governments to continue keeping fluoride levels in tap water at an optimal level." Dr Kilov said one of the key challenges was convincing parents of the long-term importance of children's dental health. "Most parents seem to understand that obesity can lead to problems like diabetes, but they don't seem to have the same understanding of the potential consequences of tooth decay," he said. Dr Kilov said the potential consequences included discomfort, infections and the need for more dental treatment. "In short, poor childhood dental health leads to pain and a financial burden," he said. Dr Kilov said prevention was better than cure. "He said children should have regular dental checks from about age three.
"It is easier to rectify small holes than large, so early visits to a dentist are recommended," he said.