By Associated Press
Atlanta, GA – A new study shows tooth decay in children's baby teeth is on the rise -- a worrying trend that signals the preschool crowd is eating too much sugar.
The largest government study of the nation's dental health in more than 25 years also notes a drop in the proportion of non-elderly adults who have visited a dentist in the past year. That's a possible indicator of declining dental insurance.
The results are being reported today at a meeting of the American Association for Public Health Dentistry in Denver.
There is some good news -- Older children have fewer cavities and adults have less periodontal disease than in the past, and more of the elderly are retaining their teeth.
The study's lead author -- Doctor Bruce Dye of the National Center for Health Statistics -- says overall most Americans are noticing an improvement in their oral health.
But experts are concerned about the prevalence of cavities in baby teeth of children ages two to five. The report shows it increased to 28 in 1999-2004 -- from 24 percent in 1988-1994.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)