More than 2.4bn people have untreated tooth decay across the globe, a study in the Journal of Dental Research suggests.<\/p>\n
Experts say it is alarming it has been neglected to this level – despite known ways to both treat and prevent it.<\/p>\n
They warn that dental decay can lead to severe pain, infections, days off work and problems with childhood growth.<\/p>\n
And the analysis shows it is not just a childhood problem. Scientists say it should be seen as an adult disease too.<\/p>\n
‘Consuming budgets’<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Tooth decay occurs when acids in the mouth dissolve the outer layers of teeth. It is also known as dental decay or dental caries.<\/p>\n If not treated it can lead to problems such as a cavities, gum disease or abscesses.<\/p>\n Prof Wagner Marcenes of Queen Mary University of London led an international team of scientists analysing 378 studies involving some 4.7m people between 1990 and 2010.<\/p>\n Their global survey suggests 2.4bn people have untreated tooth decay in their permanent teeth and some 621m children have untreated decay in milk teeth.<\/p>\n According to UK data, a third of the population had untreated dental decay in 2010. In Lithuania, one of the hardest-hit countries, the proportion was more than double this, at 68%.<\/p>\n Their work predicts more than 190m new cases of dental decay every year.<\/p>\n Prof Wagner says the main reason behind this is diet – eating and drinking high amounts of sugary foods and drinks and frequent snacking.<\/p>\n He said: “It is alarming to see prevention and treatment of tooth decay has been neglected at this level.<\/p>\n “Tooth decay is a significant economic burden. And if left untreated, it leads to poor productivity at work and absenteeism in adults, and poor school attendance and performance in children.”<\/p>\n But the review suggests a shift in the burden of caries from children to adults.<\/p>\n Prof Marcenes said: “The current perception that low levels of decay in childhood will continue throughout life, seems incorrect.<\/p>\n “Yet most policies are focused on children – adults are neglected.”<\/p>\n He suggests health messages should should be considered in adult workplaces too.<\/p>\n Professor David Williams, an expert in global oral health at Queen Mary University of London, who was not involved in the research, added: “What is clear is that this is a major public health problem.<\/p>\n “And there is a major tension here – this is a disease that is prevalent and yet preventable and is consuming budgets.<\/p>\n “But the likelihood that the oral health community will be able to fight this battle single-handedly can be challenged.”<\/p>\n The international team included researchers from the University of Washington, Seattle, and the University of Queensland, Australia.<\/p>\n –<\/p>\n Source: BBC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" More than 2.4bn people have untreated tooth decay across the globe, a study in the Journal of Dental Research suggests. Experts say it is alarming it has been neglected to this level – despite known ways to both treat and prevent it. They warn that dental decay can lead to severe pain, infections, days off […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":96629,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[15],"yoast_head":"\n