Top Doctor Voices Concerns About Child Tooth Decay

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Wales’ chief medical officer has voiced concerns about the high rates of tooth decay among Welsh children.

According to Dr Tony Jewell, deprived areas of Wales are lagging behind affluent areas of the country, as figures suggest that rates of decay are very high in poor communities.

The Welsh government already provides fluoride varnish treatments for pre-school children, but Dr Jewell suggested that other methods were needed to try and boost standards of oral health. In his annual report, the chief medical officer called for “alternative methods” to tackle the high rates of decay. Figures show that on average, 4 out of 30 children will have experienced dental pain over the course of the last 12 months, with the number rising to 6 out of 30 in Blaenau Gwent.

Dr Jewell said that there were clear inequalities between different regions and called for improved access to fluoride for children. Last year 5,130 children in South Wales went under general anaesthetic to have teeth removed, compared to 2,700 in Birmingham, where the water supplies are fluoridated.

Many dental experts have supported the use of fluoride but there is opposition to plans to add fluoride to communal water systems, as some people believe they contribute to long-term health problems. Dental experts claim that figures support the fact that fluoride helps to prevent cavities and can be very beneficial, especially for people who live in poor areas.

In his report, Dr Jewell said that oral health education was not enough to improve standards of oral health. He also warned that children were facing a shorter life-expectancy due to unhealthy lifestyles, with figures suggesting that more than two thirds of children are not getting enough exercise.

 

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November 27th, 2011 at 08:47 PM
andy Says :

fluoride helps to prevent cavities and can be very beneficial, especially for people who live in poor areas.parents should be conscious about the will for routine pediatrician visits as part of their child’s well being care regimen. thanks for the wonderful advice. thanks.