Life

Kids' tooth decay and obesity linked

Dentist Lucy Stock of Gentle Dental Care in Belfast says her profession backs a dual strategy to combat childhood obesity and tooth decay

THE British Dental Association (BDA) supports the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry's (BSPD) call for a coordinated offensive to tackle both obesity and dental decay in children and young people under 16.

Almost 43 million children worldwide are overweight or obese. Obesity can also affect a child's self-esteem, emotional and mental health, and may lead to depression.

Meanwhile, poor nutrition affects immune function, growth and oral health.

In a position paper published recently, the BSPD has called for clearer food labelling, and a specific tax on sugary, carbonated drinks. The BSPD highlights the strong links between obesity in young people, tooth decay in permanent teeth, and deprivation. It also draws attention to the findings from the most recent National Child Measurement Programme which shows that a third of 11-year-olds are overweight or obese.

Dental decay in children is a significant public health concern, with dental extractions being the most common reason for a child aged five to 14 years being admitted to hospital in England in 2013/14. It is estimated that the cost of providing dental extractions under general anaesthesia was in the region of £30 million for this period.

Diet, especially the frequent consumption of high-sugar foods and drinks, is the main cause of dental decay, which is caused by damage to the tooth enamel by acids produced by oral bacteria breaking down these high sugar foods. Poor mouth cleaning habits, including not brushing with fluoride toothpaste, also increase the likelihood of getting holes in your teeth.

Untreated dental decay often gives pain which can affect the quantity and variety of food eaten, while chronic inflammation and infection require treatment. The pain associated with toothache can contribute to a child's failure to thrive physically and it can mean the child's brain development is stunted.

Professor Damien Walmsley, scientific adviser to the British Dental Association, said: "Given the alarming extent of obesity in young people and the profound implications it has for their health, as well as the long-term sustainability of the NHS, it is easy to overlook the dental consequences of over-consumption of high-sugar foods and drinks. The society's contribution to this debate is therefore a welcome reminder of the inherent connection between childhood obesity and poor dental health, both of which are dietary-related and preventable."