Fed: Tooth decay a problem for four in five indigenous kids

AAP General News (Australia)
02-19-2007
Fed: Tooth decay a problem for four in five indigenous kids

New figures show dental disease is common among Aboriginal children .. with almost
four in five kids having decaying teeth or other mouth problems.

A five-year study of children under 10 has found 78 per cent of indigenous children
have dental disease .. compared with 50 per cent of others.

And it's found indigenous youngsters living in regional areas have the poorest dental
health of all children.

The University of Adelaide study's found these problems often lead to tooth loss ..

difficulties with eating .. problems with speech .. and infections that spread to other
parts of the body.

They can also cause extreme pain that disrupts sleep .. and damages concentration and
self-esteem.

The researchers have collected data from one thousand 169 indigenous and six thousand
488 non-indigenous children living around Port Augusta in mid-north South Australia between
2001 and 2006.

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