A recent report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control is noting an increase in cavities in children between the ages of two and five.
This report follows up on an earlier study of more than twenty-six thousand Americans conducted between 1988 and 1994. Study participants had their oral health monitored through interviews and regular checkups.
A repeat of the study took place between 1999 and 2004 — approximately twenty-five thousand Americans were involved the second time around. Again, participants were monitored through interviews and regular checkups. The CDC compared the two studies to take a look at dental health trends in the United States.
The good news is that oral health has improved for most Americans since the first study began in 1988. Dental cavities declined in every age group but one — children between the ages of two and five. More good news: the number of senior citizens who lose all their teeth is also on a downward trend.
So what’s causing trouble for the baby teeth? The researchers aren’t sure. But comparing the two reports show that around twenty-eight percent of American children have cavities in their baby teeth, compared with only twenty-four percent ten years ago. The problem seems especially prevalent in boys, in children living in poverty, and in non-Hispanic whites.
What can you do to help your child have strong, healthy teeth?
- Make sure they eat a balanced diet.
- Teach them the right way to brush.
- Encourage them to brush more than once per day.
- Offer snacks and drinks that are lower in sugar or sugar-free.
- Make regular professional cleanings and dental checkups are a part of the regular health routine.
Baby teeth (or primary teeth) are the first twenty teeth in a child’s mouth. They fall out to make way for the adult teeth (or permanent teeth) as the child grows.