Dentists ask parents to keep a watch on kids' teeth to prevent decay

LOS ANGELES - Alarmed at the increasing prevalence of tooth decay and cavities in children, the American Dental Association has urged kids and parents alike to pay attention to what has been dubbed as the  silent epidemic.
Posted : Tue, 14 Feb 2006 19:40:01 GMT
By : Ryan Jones
Category : Health
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LOS ANGELES - Alarmed at the increasing prevalence of tooth decay and cavities in children, the American Dental Association has urged kids and parents alike to pay attention to what has been dubbed as the "silent epidemic."

"National studies are showing that early decay is on the increase, and that's shocking, actually," commented Dr. Mary Hayes, a spokeswoman for the ADA. Her comments came after a study sponsored by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that more than 4 million preschool kids were victims of tooth decay.

This figure represented an increase of more than 600,000 children in just about a decade. And it is these numbers that are providing food for thought as National Children's Dental Health Month takes off in February. Dentists say the problem is being compounded by the fact that children consume more snacks and more tooth destroying sugary drinks these days, "The science now is, we aren't worried about teeth being hard or soft," Hayes said.

"The issue more is the bacteria living in your mouth and how happy they are there." The problem begins with the deposition of dental plaque, which is a thin film that is formed around the tooth after consumption of food. The bacteria in this plaque start their work if it remains for more than 24 hours. They produce acids, which triggers the dissolution of the enamel.

The enamel is the white structure that is the outermost layer of the tooth. Decay begins once the enamel is dissolved. This process is even faster in baby or milk teeth, "Baby teeth are with us longer than people think," Hayes observed.

"People think if a baby tooth gets decay, that's OK because the tooth is disposable. But the last ones don't leave until kids are about 12." Decayed baby teeth also cause a lot of pain and suffering and it is this problem that the ADA wants to prevent. Hence, parents are being advised to closely monitor their kids' teeth cleaning habits to make sure that every effort is put in to prevent the "silent epidemic" that threatens US children.

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    Study Reveals Fluoridation is Ineffective
    By: nyscof , Wed, 15 Feb 2006 18:48:52 GMT

    California Cavity-Epidemic Study Reveals Fluoridation is Ineffective

    New York – February 14 -- Fluoridated California communities have huge cavity rates and large dentist-neglected populations, according to a recent California study,1 reports the New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation (NYSCOF).



    Although dentistry promises steep cavity reductions with fluoride-laced water supplies, that’s not happening in California which is in the midst of a cavity epidemic.2

    For example: fluoridated Long Beach children have more cavities (75%) 3 than California state (71%) despite a state-wide fluoridation rate one-fourth that of Long Beach. California is 27% fluoridated.

    Los Angeles County is 44% fluoridated,4 yet 75% have tooth decay. 5 Santa Clara County, where several cities fluoridate,6 has a 72% cavity rate.7 Humboldt County is 35% fluoridated8 yet may have a higher cavity rate than California as a whole.9 Despite five fluoridated districts,6 Alameda County had double the statewide number of students needing urgent dental care.10

    In contrast, NON-fluoridated Nassau County, New York, has a 50% cavity rate.11

    Nationally 50% of six- to 8-year-olds have cavities.12 Fluoride is delivered to 2/3 of Americans via public water supplies and virtually 100% via the food supply

    The California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) predicted that California preschoolers’ poor nutrition, soda drinking and poor dental care would lead to more tooth decay.13

    “Cavity rates correlate with poor diet and lack of dental care - two symptoms of poverty - not fluoride intake,” says Paul Beeber, President NYSCOF. “Fluoridation proponents are unjustifiably using the California study to promote fluoridation, when, in fact, it proves fluoridation’s ineffectiveness,” says Beeber.

    Calcium, magnesium, vitamins A, C, D and other nutrients, not fluoride, are required to build and maintain healthy teeth. Many California preschoolers lack these nutrients because they do not consume recommended amounts of fruit, vegetables and milk while drinking too much soda.13

    With free and accessible dental care, military personnel’s dental health exceeds their civilian counterparts, reports the U.S. Surgeon General.14

    Forty-percent of California’s uninsured schoolchildren have untreated decay.1 Few California dentists accept Medicaid patients.15 Yet, dental groups oppose allowing trained dental therapists to mitigate the oral health epidemic.(16a, b)

    Many fluoridated communities experience cavity crises in the U.S.17 Children need dental care, not fluoridation.18

    “With soda such an obvious and preventable cause of tooth decay, we question why the American Association of Pediatric Dentists accepted a $1 million grant from Coca-Cola,”19 says Beeber.

    Contact: Paul Beeber, President,
    New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation
    PO Box 263
    Old Bethpage, NY 11804

    nyscof@aol.com

    http://www.orgsites.com/ny/nyscof

    http://www.FluorideAction.Net

    SOURCE: New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation

    References:

    http://groups.google.com/group/Fluoridation-News-Releases



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