Expert says most children suffer from dental cavities

Expert says most children suffer from dental cavities

JAKARTA (JP): Ninety-five percent of 2.4 million children
between six and 12 years old in Jakarta suffer from dental
cavities, an expert said Saturday.

Heriandi Sutandi, head of the Children's Dentistry Division at
the University of Indonesia, told The Jakarta Post that the high
number of cavities was uncovered in last year's survey by the
university's School of Dentistry.

Based on the survey, 70 percent of children between two and
five years old have cavities, while 60 percent of teenagers
between 12 and 16 also have them.

The high percentage of cavity cases was also found in other
big cities, including Bandung, Surabaya, Medan and Semarang.

Heriandi said most cavities were caused by the consumption of
sweets and junk food.

"Ice cream, candy, chocolate and milk alter children's diets,"
he said at a one-day dental health campaign at Taman Ria Senayan,
Central Jakarta.

Children in big cities, including Jakarta, were free to eat
almost any kind of food without knowing how the food affected
their health, he said.

"Unfortunately most parents only have limited knowledge about
dental care. Many of them don't care enough about maintaining
their teeth."

The most effective way to avoid tooth decay was by routinely
brushing your teeth at least twice daily, he said. And after
children consumed sweets, they should wash there mouths out with
water.

"The habit of maintaining clean teeth must start at an early
age," Heriandi said.

"Just because they don't have a complete set of permanent
teeth yet doesn't mean they're not prone to cavities or other
mouth infections," he said.

To protect teeth from cavities, the use of fluoride toothpaste
is recommended.

"Fluoride can also be consumed naturally, either by eating a
lot of fish and vegetables or drinking ground water."

That was why children living in coastal areas showed
resistance to cavities because they ate a lot of fish, he said.

Heriandi said the lack of knowledge in protecting and
maintaining healthy teeth was the main obstacle in building
people's awareness.

"For instance, the amount of cavities found in 3-month-old
babies occur because the parents don't know that giving a baby a
bottle of milk while sleeping is very damaging.

"When the baby sleeps, the milk remains in its mouth together
with bacteria which easily stimulates acid production. Then the
acid reacts with the teeth and created holes," he said.

There was a survey which revealed that every two cavities in a
tooth, if not treated immediately, would double in size within
six months, he said.

"It's very important for people to have a routine dental
checkup at least once a year. Many people are afraid to go to the
dentist, because they say treatment hurts.

"That perception is wrong. People usually go to the dentist
when their teeth are already in bad condition. If they go to the
dentist sooner, there won't be any problems," he added.

The dental health campaign was jointly held by University of
Indonesia's School of Dentistry and Taman Ria Senayan.

Among activities held Saturday were a dental health
competition, smiling competition, free dental checkups,
children's choirs and dance performances.

Mrs. F. Sujudi, wife of Minister of Health Sujudi, kicked off
Saturday's campaign, accompanied by the dentistry school's dean
Faruk Hoesin.

Minister Sujudi said earlier the government was to launch a
national campaign this week on fluoridated drinking water to help
combat dental problems.

He said the rate of periodontal disease -- which affected gum
tissue surrounding the teeth -- was very high, affecting 86
percent of the national population.

The fluoridation campaign was supported by international
health institutions, including the World Health Organization.
(07)