Few Children Receive Proper Dental Care before First Birthday

A recent study shows that few children receive dental care before the recommended age of 1.

Researchers from St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto found that less than 1 percent of healthy urban children in the area received any dental care before the 12 month mark, and less than 2 percent had seen a dentist by the age of 24 months.

For the study, researchers surveyed 2,505 children who belonged to The Applied Research Group for Kids (TARGET Kids) around the age of 4 from 2011 to 2013. Findings showed that 39 percent had never been to a dentist.

Lead study author Dr. Jonathon Maguire, a pediatrician and researcher at St. Michael's Hospital, found that of the children who had visited a dentist, 24 percent had at least one cavity.

Maguire said he believes the culprit to poor dental hygiene is often prolonged bottle use at night or consumption of sweetened drinks that can increase the risk of cavities through bacteria formed in the mouth.

Poor dental hygiene seen at a young age was typically more common in lower income families of East Asian maternal ancestry.

"It's one thing for primary health care providers to be recommending early preventive dental care but for many families this is unrealistic," Maguire said, via a press release. "Publically funded universal early preventive dental care just makes sense."

Cavities can not only result in poor dental hygiene, but can ultimately foster many other problems, including behavioral issues, poor nutritional status and difficulties feeding.

In conclusion, finding the proper dental care for your child early on can help prevent future health issues. 

More information regarding the findings can be seen via the journal Pediatrics.