Decay tops list of childhood illnesses in Calgary
Tooth decay is the common preventable childhood illness amongst children in Calgary.
Staff from the Alberta Children’s Hospital have revealed that dental health problems are the most common reason for children being admitted for surgery. Dr Leonard Smith said that thousands of children come to the hospital each year for surgery on teeth that have been severely decayed; in many cases, the teeth have to be extracted. Dr Smith said that he frequently sees children who need fillings in every single one of their teeth.
Although standards of oral health amongst older children are improving, the number of younger children, aged under three, with decay is increasing year on year. Dr Smith’s youngest surgical patient was just 18 months old and required fourteen root canals and ten crowns.
Tooth decay is preventable and this is why dentists are so eager to teach parents and carers about the importance of good oral hygiene and oral health; as well as the obvious health benefits of having healthy teeth and gums, many dentists have seen an improvement in behaviour and performance at school after treating children with widespread decay and other dental health problems.
Dentists are keen to encourage parents and children to incorporate oral hygiene into their daily lives; spending a few minutes each day cleaning and brushing the teeth and gums will make a huge amount of difference and will reduce the risk of harmful oral health conditions. Diet is also key, with many children suffering from decay as a direct result of eating a diet that is high is sugary foods such as sweets, chocolates and cakes. Dentists also urge parents to take their children to the dentist every six months from the age of six months onwards.
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