Caries in children decreases with parent income

World Caries Congress: Less tooth decay in children

07/03/2014

Today the World Caries Congress begins in Greifswald, to which about 300 caries researchers from 35 countries are expected. The doctors want to discuss the diagnosis and the treatment of caries until Saturday, with alternative treatment concepts to be discussed. A focus should also be on the dental health of children. While caries levels are declining in most industrialized countries, they are rising in many emerging markets. Reason is the increased sugar consumption by the increasing wealth. At the same time, however, there is a lack of precautionary systems for caries prophylaxis, explains the Greifswald dentist and conference chair Prof. Dr. med. Christian Splieth.

Significant decline in tooth decay in the industrialized countries
„It honors Greifswald to be the host of this conference Brussels and Athens“, becomes Splieth from the internet portal „arzt-aspekte.de“ cited. „Perhaps this is also a recognition for above-average good caries values, which we were able to achieve as pediatric dentists in Greifswald with Scandinavian prevention concepts.“

In developed countries children have healthier teeth than a few years ago. Nevertheless, there are still big social differences, so Splieth. While adolescents still had an average of seven carious teeth in the 1980s, today there are only 0.7. „The caries decline is a medical success story“, said the news agency's dentist „dpa“ with a view to the fourth German oral health study. In other countries, however, the trend is less positive. Thus, the caries in some emerging and emerging industrial nations even increases. „With increasing wealth, sugar consumption is rising in these countries, "Splieth said, but there is a lack of necessary precautionary systems for caries prophylaxis, for example, in Brazil, Lithuania and Poland, 12-year-olds have an average of six carious teeth.

Prevent tooth decay by consistent brushing and Fluoridgaben
Consistent brushing and fluoride delivery are the main causes of decay in most industrialized countries, researchers say. „Since the 50s and 60s, the causes of tooth decay are known. "Toothpaste with fluoride is very effective. „In society, the view has established that you no longer have to end up with a total dentition as in the past. "In addition, preventative care in kindergartens and schools and the dentist would come in. For children over three years and adolescents include the dental prevention to the health insurance, not so but at the zero to three-year-olds. „This is a political legislative gap that needs to be closed, "says Splieth. „We know that children with a lot of deciduous caries will later have more decayed tooth decay. "

Social status has an influence on the dental health of adolescents
As the fourth German oral health study shows, dental health is still reflected in social status. For example, school education and the job status and income of parents play a role. According to the study, 15-year-olds with high social status have an average of 1.4 carious teeth, and in low social status 2.1 teeth have caries. As Splieth explains, studies in Greifswald have shown that a public health dentist and a prophylactic helper contribute significantly to reducing caries levels.

„Our main goal is to give everyone a chance for good health after the convincing decay for many with the same scientifically based methods“, Splieth told the internet portal.