USA - Research shows decline in kid's oral health11 Dec 2007

Research shows decline in kid's oral health11 Dec 2007
The number of infants with cavities in their baby teeth is on the rise as children consume more sugary sweets and drinks, new research has revealed. Brushing teeth twice daily is no longer enough to curb the increasing rate of cavities in children, according to pediatric dentists.Recent figures showed that more than one in four kids now has at least one cavity in their milk teeth - the highest rate since the 1960s. Commenting on the findings, Paul Casamassimo, chief of dentistry at Nationwide Children's Hospital in the US, said: "I think it's largely diet. We can blame the increase in sugar intake and the decrease in milk intake."Mr Casamassimo advised that parents switch their kid's favourite fizzy drinks and juices with milk and tap water. He added that parents who replace tap water with bottled water are missing out on the fluoride content. "People are worried about what's in their water system, but, in fact, fluoride is still considered the number one preventative mechanism that we have against tooth decay," he maintained.