Tooth decay is common in children and often untreated, according to a report from the US Centers from Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
A CDC-sponsored screening of third graders attending 26 New Hampshire public schools found that 52% had tooth decay, or dental caries, and nearly 22% had untreated cavities.
The survey included 410 children screened between February and April 2001. Overall, nearly 70% of children, all between the ages of 8 and 9 years, had no obvious dental problems, 25% required early care and 5% required urgent care. About 46% had sealants on at least one permanent molar.
Sealants are applied to permanent teeth in order to prevent decay.
Despite improvements in oral health in the United States, by late adolescence approximately 80% of children have a history of caries.
The New Hampshire screening results mirror those found in Maine in 1999, showing a similar percentage of children with a history of dental caries, untreated dental caries and sealants on permanent molars.
CDC officials point out that the national health objectives for 2010 aim for decreasing the level of untreated decay in children aged 6 to 8 years to 21%, and a history of caries in this age group of 42%. The objectives also aim to increase the number children with sealants on permanent teeth to 50% of 8-year-olds.
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report March 29, 2002;51:258-260
I sure wish my parents would have known and applied this information as I had an entire mouth full of mercury filled amalgams to replace all the cavities I had as a child from not following the basic plan of health.
Last year the American Dental Association published a study, which showed that even free care, is not the answer to optimal dental health. So visiting your dentist more frequently is not the answer.
Many other studies also clearly demonstrate that fluoride is not the answer to preventing cavities. It is instructive to note that nearly all European countries that initially implemented fluoride have since removed fluoride from their water supply.
Anyone who has ever reviewed Nutrition and Physical Degeneration will soon recognize that diet is one major factor in dental health.
Dr. Price wrote this book in 1920 and it is full of pictures of cultures with excellent dental health that rapidly deteriorated once processed Western food was introduced.
Yes folks, brushing and flossing are not as important as avoiding the sugars and grains and variety of processed junk that the bulk of Americans consume as "foods".
Additionally optimizing your omega-3 and omega-6 fat ratio is also likely to be a significant factor in reducing cavities.
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