USA - Dentists:Increase in tooth decay among kids due to accessibility of soda, sugar-laden juices
Dentists:Increase in tooth decay among kids due to accessibility of soda, sugar-laden juices
Monday, October 15, 2007 Mail to a friend Printer Friendly Version
By Kelly Wilson
Herald-Whig Staff Writer
Sugary drinks are taking a toll on young children's teeth.
A comprehensive study of the nation's dental health released earlier this year by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that tooth decay in primary, or baby, teeth of children ages 2 to 5 is on the rise. "We've definitely not seen it go down. It's leveling off or maybe slightly increasing," said Dr. Charles Janes, a dentist with offices in Quincy and Hannibal, Mo.
"Most of the cause is the administration of soft drinks (and sugar-laden juice drinks) to kids in their sippy cups. It's a big sugar, acid bath all day long."
The report, "Trends in Oral Health Status — United States, 1988-1994 and 1999-2004," was based on data from the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics. It represents the most comprehensive assessment of oral health data available for the U.S. population to date.
While the report shows that Americans of all ages continue to experience improvements in their oral health, tooth decay in baby teeth of children ages 2 to 5 increased from 24 percent to 28 percent.
"We were surprised," said the study's lead author, Bruce Dye of the National Center for Health Statistics. "This is really the first documented increase in a long, long time. Four percentage points represents tens of thousands of children in the United States." Janes said that sippy cups — training cups meant to transition a child from the bottle to a cup — can lead to rotting teeth if parents fill them with sugary liquids and let their children carry the cups around throughout the day.
At-will, frequent sips encourage tooth decay.
Janes said tooth decay also can occur when a baby is put to bed with a bottle or when sugary drinks are given to young children at night. This "baby bottle tooth decay" is easy to spot, he said, because it typically affects the front teeth.
Decay in older children may affect their back teeth, he said. Some may think that getting cavities in baby teeth is OK because the teeth are going to fall out and be replaced by permanent teeth.
The American Dental Association says that baby teeth are important because children need strong, healthy teeth to chew their food, speak and have a nice smile.
Janes said baby teeth also keep a space in the jaw for the adult teeth. If a baby tooth is lost too early, the teeth beside it may drift into the empty space and when it's time for the adult teeth to come in, there may not be enough room. This can make the teeth crooked or crowded.
"It can lead to orthodontics that may not have been necessary," Janes said.
In addition, he says untreated decay can spread, turning into an infection that can be painful for the child.
Janes suggests replacing sugary drinks with milk or water and limiting the use of sippy cups. Other important prevention tips are to brush twice daily; floss (with a parent's help at first); visit a dentist twice a year starting at about 18 months; get fluoride treatments starting at age 3 or 4; and get dental sealants placed on 6-year and 12-year molars.
"Children also should have an orthodontic evaluation by age 5 or 6 to correct problems earlier," he said. Orthodontic issues also can crop up because of untreated allergies. "I'm seeing a lot more allergies these days," Janes said. Allergies can cause enlarged tonsils and adenoids, which leads to breathing problems and causes the child to hold his or her tongue in the mouth differently. The end result is that the teeth don't fit together properly.
Contact Staff Writer Kelly Wilson
NYSCOF[fluoridated] Quincy and [fluoridated] Hannibal,
Monday, October 15, 2007 Mail to a friend Printer Friendly Version
By Kelly Wilson
Herald-Whig Staff Writer
Sugary drinks are taking a toll on young children's teeth.
A comprehensive study of the nation's dental health released earlier this year by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that tooth decay in primary, or baby, teeth of children ages 2 to 5 is on the rise. "We've definitely not seen it go down. It's leveling off or maybe slightly increasing," said Dr. Charles Janes, a dentist with offices in Quincy and Hannibal, Mo.
"Most of the cause is the administration of soft drinks (and sugar-laden juice drinks) to kids in their sippy cups. It's a big sugar, acid bath all day long."
The report, "Trends in Oral Health Status — United States, 1988-1994 and 1999-2004," was based on data from the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics. It represents the most comprehensive assessment of oral health data available for the U.S. population to date.
While the report shows that Americans of all ages continue to experience improvements in their oral health, tooth decay in baby teeth of children ages 2 to 5 increased from 24 percent to 28 percent.
"We were surprised," said the study's lead author, Bruce Dye of the National Center for Health Statistics. "This is really the first documented increase in a long, long time. Four percentage points represents tens of thousands of children in the United States." Janes said that sippy cups — training cups meant to transition a child from the bottle to a cup — can lead to rotting teeth if parents fill them with sugary liquids and let their children carry the cups around throughout the day.
At-will, frequent sips encourage tooth decay.
Janes said tooth decay also can occur when a baby is put to bed with a bottle or when sugary drinks are given to young children at night. This "baby bottle tooth decay" is easy to spot, he said, because it typically affects the front teeth.
Decay in older children may affect their back teeth, he said. Some may think that getting cavities in baby teeth is OK because the teeth are going to fall out and be replaced by permanent teeth.
The American Dental Association says that baby teeth are important because children need strong, healthy teeth to chew their food, speak and have a nice smile.
Janes said baby teeth also keep a space in the jaw for the adult teeth. If a baby tooth is lost too early, the teeth beside it may drift into the empty space and when it's time for the adult teeth to come in, there may not be enough room. This can make the teeth crooked or crowded.
"It can lead to orthodontics that may not have been necessary," Janes said.
In addition, he says untreated decay can spread, turning into an infection that can be painful for the child.
Janes suggests replacing sugary drinks with milk or water and limiting the use of sippy cups. Other important prevention tips are to brush twice daily; floss (with a parent's help at first); visit a dentist twice a year starting at about 18 months; get fluoride treatments starting at age 3 or 4; and get dental sealants placed on 6-year and 12-year molars.
"Children also should have an orthodontic evaluation by age 5 or 6 to correct problems earlier," he said. Orthodontic issues also can crop up because of untreated allergies. "I'm seeing a lot more allergies these days," Janes said. Allergies can cause enlarged tonsils and adenoids, which leads to breathing problems and causes the child to hold his or her tongue in the mouth differently. The end result is that the teeth don't fit together properly.
Contact Staff Writer Kelly Wilson
NYSCOF[fluoridated] Quincy and [fluoridated] Hannibal,
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