Baby Teeth Cavities On The Rise, Says CDC

(WebMD)  America's children are increasingly getting their first dental cavities before the tooth fairy arrives.

The CDC on Monday released its latest report card on the nation's oral health. The report shows that about 28% of U.S. children aged 2-5 have cavities in their baby teeth. That's up from about 24% nearly a decade ago.

Data came from two national health studies that included interviews and oral health checkups.

The first study, conducted from 1988 to 1994, included more than 26,000 U.S. civilians. The second study, conducted from 1999 to 2004, included more than 25,000 U.S. civilians. The CDC compared the two studies, looking for oral health trends.

Overall, the CDC's report shows that oral health improved for most Americans between 1988 and 2004. For instance, dental cavities declined for every age group except children
aged 2-5, and the number of seniors losing all of their teeth continues to decline.

The statistics don't explain why dental cavities are rising in baby teeth. But the study shows that boys, non-Hispanic whites, and youths living in poverty were particularly affected.

"This report shows that while we are continuing to make strides in prevention of tooth decay, this disease clearly remains a problem for some racial and ethnic groups, many of whom have more treated and untreated tooth decay compared to other groups," the CDC's Bruce Dye, DDS, MPH, says in a CDC news release. Dye was among the researchers who worked on the CDC's report.


By Miranda Hitti
Reviewed by Louise Chang, M.D.
©2007 WebMD, Inc. All rights reserved

[gabbysmomrs]

Why worry about baby teeth?? A friend's 4-year-old had to have ALL his baby teeth removed because his teeth were rotten. He's now waiting for his permanent teeth. His mom "couldn't" get him to brush and she had boxed fruit drinks available in a drawer of the fridge so he could have one whenever he wanted. I hope everyone will pay attention to this news.

[johnnaw1]

JUSTFACTS2, Bad teeth lead to gum disease.

[extremophil]

If the little buggers would brush after each breast feeding they wouldn't have so many cavities.

[kagorley]

Nutrition and Physical Degeneration by Weston A.Price, D.D.S.

[justfacts2]

I cannot believe these people are surprised with the statistics. I guess they don't read the papers or if they do they don't pay attention. How in the world do they expect lower income/poverty level families to get dental care when they aren't able to afford to do so? I also do not understand the big deal about cavities in baby teeth. They are going to fall out anyway. My baby teeth were wracked with cavities when I was a kid, but I have never once had a cavity in my permanent teeth. To me, you worry more about permanent teeth than baby teeth. Baby teeth, after all, are only temporary.