Fluoridated USA - Pediatric cavities reach an all-time high
BY DWIGHT DAVIS
The Dispatch
Published: Monday, August 27, 2012 at 2:52 p.m.
The CDC reports disparities in early childhood tooth decay along racial, ethnic and socioeconomic lines: 14.5 percent of white children 2-5 years of age had untreated cavities in 2004, compared with Hispanics of Mexican origin at 24.2 percent and African-Americans at 29.2 percent. Young children, ages 2-5, below 100 percent of the U.S. poverty threshold experienced twice the rate of untreated cavities (26.1 percent) as those above 200 percent of the poverty level (12.1 percent) during the same period. The U.S. poverty threshold is now set at $22,314 in annual income for a family of four.
Parents and primary caregivers should make sure children are cleaning their teeth, Laws said. "A lot of parents let their children brush their own teeth, but some children just don't have the dexterity to do that. Parents can clean their children's teeth with a wash cloth, if nothing else. They need to clean them twice a day and have regular checkups."
"It is essential that parents play close attention to good oral health during the first year of a child's life," said Dr. Ronald Venezie, a pediatric dentist who practices in Apex and whose expertise was cited in the dental society's press release. "A dentist should examine a child as soon as primary teeth begin to appear, usually during the first six months and no later than the first birthday. This is similar to a 'well-baby' checkup, and it will not only identify potential problems, it gets the child used to visiting the dentist at an early age."
Children who have serious decay at a very young age may need to be sedated and require hospitalization for dental care.
"Dental decay is the No. 1 infectious disease in America," Laws said.
The Dispatch
Published: Monday, August 27, 2012 at 2:52 p.m.
The CDC reports disparities in early childhood tooth decay along racial, ethnic and socioeconomic lines: 14.5 percent of white children 2-5 years of age had untreated cavities in 2004, compared with Hispanics of Mexican origin at 24.2 percent and African-Americans at 29.2 percent. Young children, ages 2-5, below 100 percent of the U.S. poverty threshold experienced twice the rate of untreated cavities (26.1 percent) as those above 200 percent of the poverty level (12.1 percent) during the same period. The U.S. poverty threshold is now set at $22,314 in annual income for a family of four.
Parents and primary caregivers should make sure children are cleaning their teeth, Laws said. "A lot of parents let their children brush their own teeth, but some children just don't have the dexterity to do that. Parents can clean their children's teeth with a wash cloth, if nothing else. They need to clean them twice a day and have regular checkups."
"It is essential that parents play close attention to good oral health during the first year of a child's life," said Dr. Ronald Venezie, a pediatric dentist who practices in Apex and whose expertise was cited in the dental society's press release. "A dentist should examine a child as soon as primary teeth begin to appear, usually during the first six months and no later than the first birthday. This is similar to a 'well-baby' checkup, and it will not only identify potential problems, it gets the child used to visiting the dentist at an early age."
Children who have serious decay at a very young age may need to be sedated and require hospitalization for dental care.
"Dental decay is the No. 1 infectious disease in America," Laws said.
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