USA - Dentists blame sugary foods, drinks for increasing childhood tooth decay
Dentists blame sugary foods, drinks for increasing childhood tooth decay
by By Nanci Bompey, NBOMPEY@CITIZEN-TIMES.COM
published July 24, 2007 12:15 am
ASHEVILLE - Like many kids his age, 5-year-old Titus Young has grown up consuming sugary drinks and foods. And now, like a growing number of children, Titus has three cavities and a crown on his baby teeth.
He is not unique. Local doctors say tooth decay is on the rise among young children. They say that sugary foods and drinks have played a role in the increase in tooth decay among children between 2 and 5 years old. "It is a societal thing," said Dr. William Chambers, an Asheville pediatric dentist. "There's more obesity, more tooth decay. ... It's all related to dietary habits." Tooth decay is the most common childhood disease, and it is on the rise among young children. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 28 percent of children ages 2-5 years had tooth decay in their primary, or "baby," teeth between 1999 and 2004 while only 24 percent of the same age children were diagnosed with tooth decay between 1988 and 1994. Local dentists say they are seeing more young children with cavities than ever before. Dr. Joshua Paynich, a local dentist, said he diagnoses about 10-20 children a week with severe, early childhood tooth decay. Paynich said he sees children who have cavities, crowns and even have to get their teeth removed. "People think kids can't get problems that severe," he said. Tooth decay or cavities are bacterial infections. Bacteria, which live in the mouth, thrive on foods that are high in sugar and starch. The bacteria produce acid that destroys tooth enamel, which eventually leads to tooth decay.
Dentists say more kids today eat sugary and starchy foods, and many parents give their children bottles or sippy cups filled with juice or milk constantly throughout the day. "They are just bathing teeth in sugar all day long," he said. Dr. Dennis Campbell said tooth decay is related to American society's tendency to pacify children with food and drinks. "The decay rate doesn't have to increase," he said. "A child does not have to get cavities. We tend to do things and not think about the consequences." But the consequences can be severe. If tooth decay is left untreated, it can affect speech, eating and a child's bite. Cavities and tooth pain can result in missed school days and affect concentration, and can have even more serious long-term consequences. "If it is left untreated, it affects the growth and development patterns of adult teeth," Paynich said.
Treating tooth decay can also be costly and can require a visit to the operating room. Campbell said he has seen 2- and 3-year-old children who have cavities in 12 of their 20 baby teeth, which have to be extracted in the hospital. "That's not common, but it's certainly a reality," he said. "Little kids will get decay real fast." Dr. Adam Hodges, president of the Buncombe County Dental Society, said baby teeth hold the space for adult teeth. When baby teeth fall out or are removed because of decay, the space between teeth gets smaller. This means adult teeth become more crowded, which can lead to dental problems down the road. "A lot of people believe they are expendable because they are baby teeth," Hodges said.
Kim Young, Titus' mother, said while she has limited the amount of junk food she feeds her son, she is still concerned about the damage that has already been done to Titus' mouth. "I do worry about what his permanent teeth are going to look like," she said.
Asheville, NC, is fluoridated:NYSCOF
by By Nanci Bompey, NBOMPEY@CITIZEN-TIMES.COM
published July 24, 2007 12:15 am
ASHEVILLE - Like many kids his age, 5-year-old Titus Young has grown up consuming sugary drinks and foods. And now, like a growing number of children, Titus has three cavities and a crown on his baby teeth.
He is not unique. Local doctors say tooth decay is on the rise among young children. They say that sugary foods and drinks have played a role in the increase in tooth decay among children between 2 and 5 years old. "It is a societal thing," said Dr. William Chambers, an Asheville pediatric dentist. "There's more obesity, more tooth decay. ... It's all related to dietary habits." Tooth decay is the most common childhood disease, and it is on the rise among young children. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 28 percent of children ages 2-5 years had tooth decay in their primary, or "baby," teeth between 1999 and 2004 while only 24 percent of the same age children were diagnosed with tooth decay between 1988 and 1994. Local dentists say they are seeing more young children with cavities than ever before. Dr. Joshua Paynich, a local dentist, said he diagnoses about 10-20 children a week with severe, early childhood tooth decay. Paynich said he sees children who have cavities, crowns and even have to get their teeth removed. "People think kids can't get problems that severe," he said. Tooth decay or cavities are bacterial infections. Bacteria, which live in the mouth, thrive on foods that are high in sugar and starch. The bacteria produce acid that destroys tooth enamel, which eventually leads to tooth decay.
Dentists say more kids today eat sugary and starchy foods, and many parents give their children bottles or sippy cups filled with juice or milk constantly throughout the day. "They are just bathing teeth in sugar all day long," he said. Dr. Dennis Campbell said tooth decay is related to American society's tendency to pacify children with food and drinks. "The decay rate doesn't have to increase," he said. "A child does not have to get cavities. We tend to do things and not think about the consequences." But the consequences can be severe. If tooth decay is left untreated, it can affect speech, eating and a child's bite. Cavities and tooth pain can result in missed school days and affect concentration, and can have even more serious long-term consequences. "If it is left untreated, it affects the growth and development patterns of adult teeth," Paynich said.
Treating tooth decay can also be costly and can require a visit to the operating room. Campbell said he has seen 2- and 3-year-old children who have cavities in 12 of their 20 baby teeth, which have to be extracted in the hospital. "That's not common, but it's certainly a reality," he said. "Little kids will get decay real fast." Dr. Adam Hodges, president of the Buncombe County Dental Society, said baby teeth hold the space for adult teeth. When baby teeth fall out or are removed because of decay, the space between teeth gets smaller. This means adult teeth become more crowded, which can lead to dental problems down the road. "A lot of people believe they are expendable because they are baby teeth," Hodges said.
Kim Young, Titus' mother, said while she has limited the amount of junk food she feeds her son, she is still concerned about the damage that has already been done to Titus' mouth. "I do worry about what his permanent teeth are going to look like," she said.
Asheville, NC, is fluoridated:NYSCOF
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