Hispanic children more likely to have tooth decay
A report has revealed that Hispanic children in Utah are twice as likely to suffer from tooth decay as non-Hispanic children.
Figures relating to tooth decay amongst children in the state were published in the Hispanic Dental Association’s Fast Facts on Hispanic Oral Health.
Salt Lake City dentist, Eric Anderson said that poor oral hygiene and an unhealthy diet were to blame for low standards of oral health amongst Hispanic children. Anderson said there was a widespread lack of understanding about the importance of oral health amongst Hispanic people and consequently parents were not aware of the dangers associated with poor oral health.
According to Eric Anderson, an increasing number of Hispanic children are visiting their dentist with serious dental health problems; often children do not attend routine visits and by the time they do see their dentist, their condition has become advanced and requires complex, costly treatment. If parents took their children to the dentist on a regular basis, this will allow dentists to keep an eye on developing conditions and administer treatment early on. Anderson said many children were getting to the point where they were in severe pain and had to be admitted to an emergency medical department because their dental problems had been left untreated for so long.
The Hispanic Dental Association say that many people are unaware of the services available to them and others are worried about the language barrier. The association and dentists in the area are keen to promote good oral health amongst Hispanic communities; they want to teach people about oral hygiene and raise awareness of the potential dangers associated with poor oral health. Numerous studies have shown that poor oral health can contribute to serious health issues, including an increased risk of heart disease and strokes.
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