Preventing Child Oral Health Issues: An Increasing Apprehension

 

An alarming pattern has been noticed in Australia: more and more kids are being admitted to hospitals for oral health issues that are completely preventable. Alarming data that underscores this expanding issue was recently released by the Australian Dental Association (ADA). Let's investigate the underlying causes and possible remedies for this urgent problem in more detail.

The Astonishing Data

Nearly 11 out of every 1,000 children between the ages of 5 and 9 were admitted to Australian hospitals in 2021–2022, for avoidable dental conditions, according to the ADA's updated Oral Health Tracker. Compared to 2018, this number represents an increase of 9.5 per 1,000 children.

The Fundamental Reasons

The biggest of these are the exorbitant expenses linked to dental care and the general ignorance of the free dental care programs accessible to qualifying kids. The Child Dental Benefits Schedule is presently being used by an astonishing 38% of eligible families, which suggests that more focused advertising is required for this program.

Diet's Function

The high rates of dental decay in children—nearly three out of every four children aged 9 to 13 consuming too much sugar—are another important contributing factor. Particularly concerning is the consumption of sugar-filled beverages, as 37% of kids drink two to five fruit juices or soft drinks every week.

In summary

In conclusion, there is a concerning trend of children being admitted to hospitals for avoidableoral health problems. This is a serious problem that requires quick attention, and public knowledge of the Child Dental Benefit Schedule has to be raised. Since Opal Dental bulk bills for all kids on the child dental benefit schedule, your kid can get the excellent dental care they might require for nothing!