This study was conducted in the UK but many families here in the US can relate…
More than one million kids under-five have two or more fillings because parents can’t get them to brush their teeth
- One in six parents say their child has at least three fillings
- Fifth of mothers haven’t taken their youngsters to the dentist in the past two years
More than one million children under five have at least two fillings because parents cannot get them to brush their teeth, according to a new study.
Researchers found almost a quarter of parents said their little ones only cleaned their teeth once a day, with half saying they found the whole experience too stressful.
As a result, one in six say their child has at least three fillings and almost half of children under 12 have been told they have tooth decay.
The daily battle to get kids to brush their teeth leaves almost one in five mothers between a seven and ten on the stressed scale – ten being very stressed – and one in ten have regular arguments over it.
A further one in six admit to becoming a nag every morning and night, while one in ten confess they know their children are lying about brushing their teeth.
Visits to the dentist are filling parents with as much dread as their kids – one in seven feel judged when the dentist has to give their child a filling and a quarter feel embarrassed about the state of their child’s mouth.
This could explain why a fifth of parents admit their child has not been for at least two years – four times longer than the recommended gap between visits.
The research done in the UK, by Aquafresh, also revealed one in 100 kids are suffering from gum disease – traditionally an adult condition – and the same amount have at least five fillings.
Data from the Office of National Statistics shows 14 per cent of eight-year-olds show signs of decay in their permanent teeth, with one in 100 missing a tooth due to decay.
This figure rises to 34 per cent of 12-year-olds showing signs of decay, with three per cent missing a tooth.
Leading dentist Tina Tanna said: ‘These results are shocking but not surprising – dental decay is one of the most preventable diseases”.
‘Dental decay can lead to complications such as tooth loss so it’s key that kids learn to brush properly when they are young to prevent further issues as their adult teeth begin to grow.’
Send us your ideas on how to get your kids excited about brushing!
Original Article By Daily Mail Reporter
PUBLISHED: 04:47 EST, 7 September 2012 |