Q: Is tooth decay a problem only for older people?
A: Though dental health for Americans is generally improving as people take better care of their teeth, the trend does not necessarily apply to children. Baby tooth decay, for instance, is on the rise, according to studies. In fact, one federal study found that decay in baby teeth among children 2 to 5 years old increased from 24 percent in 1988 to 28 percent in 2004. Tooth decay in youngsters can impact their lives in many ways, ranging from problems when permanent teeth come in to systemic illness that can arise from infections in the mouth.
Leaders of the American Dental Hygienists Association say parents should teach children that the mouth, just like ears, hands and feet, is a part of the body that needs to be kept clean. Mothers-to-be can protect their unborn by taking good care of their own oral health. By doing that they minimize the possibility of passing decay-causing bacteria to their child. Parents should teach their children-when the age is right-how to brush and floss and how to watch what they eat, all as ways to keep the mouth healthy. Ask your dentist about ways to influence your children in the right directions on oral health.
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