Australian Dental Association reveals children as young as two having ‘rotten teeth’ removed

Children as young as two are having to have rotten teeth removed, with parents often unwittingly neglecting the youngsters’ oral hygiene. Dismaying new data from the Australian Dental Association also reveals that a third of five to six-year-olds and a quarter of six to 14-year-olds suffer from decay in primary teeth. And a whopping 44 per cent of five to six-year-olds have not had a dental appointment by their fifth birthday. This is well past the recommended age. Children should visit the dentist by their first birthday, or when their first tooth comes through — whichever comes first. The statistics are “heartbreaking”, said Dr Mihiri Silva, a paediatric dentist and deputy chair of the ADA. “Tooth decay is almost entirely preventable — yet it has a major impact on our children,” Dr Silva said. “In a society like ours that’s really disappointing. “Parents often do what they can, but they might not be aware of what they should do.” Early intervention is essential, she warned. “Early life habits, sugar consumption, visiting the dentist — these are absolutely critical,” she said. “People don’t appreciate that getting in early can make a huge difference. By the time we start to see holes in teeth, we’ve missed a really important prevention opportunity.” According to the World Health Organisation, 70 per cent of children aged between nine and 13, and 73 per cent of teenagers aged 14 to 18, consume too much sugar. It has also found 32 per cent of five to 14-year-olds are not cleaning their teeth twice a day. The combination of high-sugar consumption and poor oral-health habits has worrying consequences. Almost 10 in every 1000 kids aged five to nine experienced a potentially preventable hospitalisation due to a dental condition. The oral health of adults is also poor, the data reveals, with 32 per cent having untreated tooth decay, while 20 per cent brush just once daily. One in 10 adults has fewer than 21 teeth, the basic number needed for the mouth to properly function. “Poor dental health can really detract from the quality of someone’s life — their sleep, their smile, how they eat, all are impacted,” Dr Silva said. “But it’s something that we can fight.”