63% of kids below 5 years suffering from tooth decay

The Ministry of Health said that 63% of children under the age of 5 in the country are suffering from tooth decay.

Specialist in the dental care unit of the Maharagama Oral Health Institute, Sonali Ranatunga said that about 60% of the children population have not even received treatment for tooth decay.

Tooth decay is damage to a tooth caused by dental plaque turning sugars into acid.

If plaque is allowed to build up, it can lead to problems, such as holes in the teeth (dental caries) and gum disease.

Dental abscesses, which are collections of pus at the end of the teeth or in the gums, may develop.

Symptoms of tooth decay:

Tooth decay may not cause any pain. But if you have dental caries, you might have:

– Toothache – either continuous pain keeping you awake, or occasional sharp pain without an obvious cause; it can sometimes be painless

– Tooth sensitivity – you may feel tenderness or pain when eating or drinking something hot, cold or sweet

– Grey, brown or black spots appearing on your teeth

– Bad breath

– An un unpleasant taste in your mouth

Seeing a dentist:

Visit your dentist regularly so early tooth decay can be treated as soon as possible and the prevention of further decay can begin.

Tooth decay is much easier and cheaper to treat in its early stages.

Dentists can usually identify tooth decay and further problems with a simple examination or X-ray.