Safeguarding Children's Oral Health

 

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 issued 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 hospitalized to Australian hospitals in 2021–2022, for avoidable dental disorders, according to the ADA's updated Oral Health Tracker. Compared to 2018, this number represents an increase of 9.5 per 1,000 youngsters.

 

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 youth—nearly three out of every four children aged 9 to 13 consuming too much sugar—are another important contributing factor. Particularly concerning is the intake of sugar-filled beverages, since 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 sent to hospitals for avoidable dental health problems. This is a serious problem that requires quick response, 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!