Australia - Casey alarm at toddlers’ teeth
Casey alarm at toddlers’ teeth
News18 Nov 09 @ 02:15am by Dimity Barber
Dentist Desmond Yiu says he is finding a surprisingly high number of cavities in children's teeth. JANE OLLERENSHAW.
LESS than 11 per cent of Casey children have seen a dentist by their third birthday.
Child Dental Health Surveys have identified a worrying rise in decayed, missing or filled teeth in the area’s four-year-olds since 1998.
Now Casey-Cardinia dentists are urging parents to take toddlers’ dental health more seriously, warning decay in baby teeth can lead to problems later on.
Fountain Gate Dental Care surgeon Desmond Yiu said he had recently filled cavities in children as young as three.
“I’m finding a lot more tooth decay in children than I would expect, particularly given how readily available fluoride is in water and toothpaste,” Dr Yiu said.
“There is definitely an attitude out there that because they are just “baby teeth” there’s no need to worry. But that is a very distressing attitude. Parents need to understand that decay in a child’s first set of teeth can lead to problems in their permanent ones.”
Dr Yiu said poor diet was the cause of the concerning trend.
“There has been a cultural change towards high sugar drinks that are very damaging to teeth,” he said.
Dr Yiu said parents should book their children in for their first dental appointment at 12-24 months of age.
News18 Nov 09 @ 02:15am by Dimity Barber
Dentist Desmond Yiu says he is finding a surprisingly high number of cavities in children's teeth. JANE OLLERENSHAW.
LESS than 11 per cent of Casey children have seen a dentist by their third birthday.
Child Dental Health Surveys have identified a worrying rise in decayed, missing or filled teeth in the area’s four-year-olds since 1998.
Now Casey-Cardinia dentists are urging parents to take toddlers’ dental health more seriously, warning decay in baby teeth can lead to problems later on.
Fountain Gate Dental Care surgeon Desmond Yiu said he had recently filled cavities in children as young as three.
“I’m finding a lot more tooth decay in children than I would expect, particularly given how readily available fluoride is in water and toothpaste,” Dr Yiu said.
“There is definitely an attitude out there that because they are just “baby teeth” there’s no need to worry. But that is a very distressing attitude. Parents need to understand that decay in a child’s first set of teeth can lead to problems in their permanent ones.”
Dr Yiu said poor diet was the cause of the concerning trend.
“There has been a cultural change towards high sugar drinks that are very damaging to teeth,” he said.
Dr Yiu said parents should book their children in for their first dental appointment at 12-24 months of age.
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