Pharmacy fights decay
December 9, 2011
MORE than 50% of all six year olds
are affected by decay of their
deciduous (baby) teeth, according
to a new report by the Australian
Institute of Health and Welfare.
Titled The Child Dental Health
Surveys Australia 2005 and 2006,
the report took into account
information on the oral health of
Australian children attending a
school dental service between
2005 and 2006 (193,457 children
aged from 4 to 15 in all states and
territories except NSW and Vic).
Key findings in the report
showed that the average six year
old Australian has two teeth
affected by decay, whilst the 10%
of children with the worst dental
health have eight or more
decaying teeth.
The lowest numbers for baby
teeth decay were found in WA and
the ACT, whilst Qld and the NT had
the highest.
Speaking in the wake of the
survey, Oral B spokesperson and
practicing dentist Dr Stella Karakasi
said “One of the biggest dental
myths I see is that deciduous teeth
are not important as you will
eventually lose them and therefore
some parents don’t think taking
their young children to the dentist
is necessary”.
“Baby teeth are very important
as they hold the space open for
when the permanent teeth erupt.
“If they decay they can cause
discomfort, and if left untreated,
painful dental infections,” she added.
Interestingly the report also
found that the average 12 year old
has at least one tooth affected by
decay.
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