Posts Tagged ‘diet’

Good News and Bad News

Friday, July 10th, 2009

The Center for Disease Control and The Center for Disease Prevention released a ten-year report April 30 of this year titled, ‘Trends in Oral Health Status’, which is based on data from the CDC National Center for Health Statistics. The report sounds good on the surface, but has some findings that have cause for serious concern to parents of infants.

First the good news. Let’s work from the top down. In the 65 and older category, edentulism (loss of teeth), is down 7% from 1997, which is most likely because periodontal (gum) disease, the leading cause of tooth loss, is down 10%. Let’s hear it for the seniors! Public awareness and motivation toward disease prevention is getting them flossing and having cleanings like never before, but don’t let up, because gum disease still remains their primary threat to oral health.

The adults from 20 to 64 have 5% less periodontal disease, a mild improvement. As you look at younger groups, the focus shifts from periodontal disease to decay being the main concern. In children from 12 to 19, decay is down a whopping 9% over the last 10 years. I’m sure that this is due to the increase in the use of sealants in that group, which is up 20%. Similarly, the use of sealants in children from 6 to 11 is up 8%, resulting in a 4% decrease in decay. Not a lot, but any positive trend is good.

The CDC report revealed additional information which is beneficial in understanding causative factors in dental disease. An obvious example is the fact that 12% of children from 6 to 11 that are from families which are below the poverty level have untreated decay, versus 4% of those in families above the poverty level. Well, of course you would expect that. Another trend I found interesting however, was the fact that 31% of Mexican American children from 6 to 11 years of age have had decay in permanent teeth, versus 19% of white non-Hispanics. On the surface, one might suspect some socio-economic reason, but in my experience I have seen that it is simply hereditary. Mexican-Americans have fissures, or grooves, in their teeth that are much deeper on the average than other nationalities. It’s unfortunate, but in light of that statistic, now they are armed with the knowledge that they need to be more diligent than average in having their children’s teeth checked and having sealants done to prevent that type of decay.

Well, I’ve put off the bad news as long as possible, but here it is. The decay rate in children from 2 to 5 years is up 4% from 24% to 28%. It may seem like a small thing, but there is something going on that has decreased these children’s resistance to dental disease and possibly other diseases. This trend will produce a ripple effect through all the previously mentioned categories as the children get older, unless our society makes some major changes in our approach to disease prevention.

Like any other endeavor, it must start with a good foundation, the diet. The first thought is to pick on sugar, but there are a lot worse things. Of course, limiting your sugar is important, but totally avoid high fructose sugars usually found in sodas and candy. Also keep your children away from processed foods and artificial sweeteners such as sucralose and aspartame. These are killers. Good substitutes are pure maple syrup, stevia, splenda, and xylitol, a natural sugar that actually prevents decay. If you need any help finding these products, call our office. Baby bottles and sipper cups, outside of meal times, should only contain water.

Then good hygiene habits must be developed. If flossing and brushing is started before walking, you’ll never need to remind your children when they get older. Just stay away from fluoride toothpastes such as Crest and Colgate. If you will read the fine print on those products, it says if you accidentally swallow any more than is necessary to brush your teeth, then call the poison control center! Well, you know your kid is going to swallow anything that goes in his mouth, and fluoride is especially toxic to young children. Find good fluoride-free toothpaste, such as Spry, Neways, Tom’s, or Oxyfresh at the health food store or our office.

Finally, the American Association of Pediatric Dentistry recommends getting your child’s first dental exam before their first birthday. Of course, you will rarely find anything, but at that age they are relatively fearless, and having a fun experience riding in the chair and getting a toy and some kudos will reinforce their confidence and desire to see the dentist in the future. The CDC, ADA, and AAPD consider the rise in children’s decay cause for national concern and have coordinated their efforts to mobilize a program to reach infants, especially in poverty-level families, to educate the parents in effective preventive measures and to provide treatment. To contribute to this cause, our office is providing free exams and cleanings to any child 3 years and younger. Also, I would like to remind you that we have always provided free dental treatment to children that qualify through Virgin Valley Family Services. I urge you to take advantage of these services for the sake of your children.

Dr. Moulton’s article was published in the Desert Valley Times,
June 2007

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