Mothers’ Tooth Decay Have Impact on Children’s Oral Health

Share This Dental Story |

 Print This Post

Related Dental Articles

• Study of Oral Health in Indian Reservation: 90 Percent Suffer Tooth Decay
• Calcium Supplements during Pregnancy May Prevent Tooth Decay
• Poor Oral Health Can be Passed Through Generations

Search for Dental Articles about...

According to a study that has been published in the Journal of Dental Research the mothers who have tooth decay themselves may very well double the odds that their children may very well develop the same dental problems.

During the study, a team of researchers from San Francisco’s University of California conducted a study that enrolled 179 mothers in an effort to study the effects of their poor dental care had on their combined 387 children.

The investigators in the study determined that about 27% of the children and 46% of the mothers had tooth decay that was untreated.

The oral health of the parents, particularly the mothers can have a significant impact the oral health of their children. In order to prevent future dental problems, dentists need to include the entire family in the dental care process and not just those individuals who are in the dentist’s chair.

This is according to Jane A Weintraub who is one of the chairs of the Division of Oral Epidemiology and Dental Public Health at the school.

She also added that the results translate into key messages for policy makers, dentists, as well as parents. Dentists need to encourage all of the members of the family to get dental care treatment, particularly if a child already has tooth decay.

The dentist also needs to provide the family with the skills, knowledge, and preventive measures that are necessary in order to help prevent future disease.