Dentists worry parents accept kids' tooth decay

Aug. 8, 2012
Dentists say many parents are accepting tooth decay as inevitable in their children.

The Australian Dental Association says 60% of parents it surveyed accepted their child would have decayed teeth at some time.

More than one third of the parents said their children only brushed once each day.

Dr. Angela Pierce of the Dental Association said tooth decay had become the most common health problem across the nation.

"Tooth decay is now five times more common in children than asthma," she said.

Cllick abc.net.au to read the entire article.

Is this attitude prevalent in the U.S.? Unfortunately, it looks like it might be heading this way.

According to a March '12 article on huffingtonpost.com, "Tooth Decay In Children On The Rise," tooth decay in kids as young as two is becoming more common. Dentists regularly see preschoolers with 10 cavities at a time.

The LA Times reported that over 50% of children will have some tooth decay by the age of five and that oral infection is the No. 1 chronic disease in kids.