Fluoridated water puts
Australia's children in top ten in world dental health
Children in Australia have better oral health than children in many
other countries, due largely to fluoridated water, says a report released
today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
'At any given age, in both baby teeth and permanent teeth, children
who live in areas with optimal fluoridated water have less tooth decay
than those from areas with low fluoride levels,' said Mr Jason
Armfield of the AIHW's Dental Research and Statistics Unit.
'These differences in disease experience between fluoridated
and non-fluoridated areas were as high as 66% for seven year olds,'
Mr Armfield said.
Optimal water fluoridation was associated with better dental health
for both five to six year-old and 11 to 12 year old children regardless
of the socioeconomic status of the area in which the children lived.
The report, Water Fluoridation and children's dental
health: The Child Dental Health Survey, Australia 2002, found that
compared to children in other countries, Australian 12 year olds have
the seventh lowest average number of decayed, missing and filled permanent
teeth.
'Although Australians are doing well in the world stakes, locally,
oral health problems in children are still evident,' Mr Armfield
said.
In 2002, over 47% of six year olds had cavities in their baby teeth.
On average, for every six year old child in Australia there were approximately
two decayed, missing or filled baby teeth.
At the same time, over 42% of 12-year-olds had cavities in their permanent
teeth. For every 12 year old in Australia, there was approximately one
decayed, missing or filled permanent tooth.
Levels of dental decay in children varied around Australia with the
average number of decayed, missing or filled deciduous teeth (five to
six year-olds) highest in Queensland and the Northern Territory and
lowest in Western Australia and South Australia.
The number of decayed, missing or filled permanent teeth in 12 year
olds was highest for the Australian Capital Territory, Queensland and
Tasmania and lowest for South Australia and the Northern Territory.
Variations by state and territory reflect underlying
population levels of disease as well as differences in the targeting
of services.
Media Release courtesy of the Australian
Institute of Health and Welfare.
Release Date: 8th January 2008
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