Cavities may slow child's growth
In articles that appeared in Reuters health and Pediatric Dentistry,
researchers at George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington,
DC, found that "improper feeding and poor dental care in children
may cause a slow growth pattern in the young". What the research
team at the GW Medical School found was that when a child had early cavity
formation, it was usually caused by improper feeding, such as sweetened
juices and milk products, as well as lack of dental care. Investigators
used 300 toddlers in the study where approximately 50% had extensive cavities
and the others did not. The children with the high caries rates equaled
approximately 14% less than 80% of their ideal weight.
Dentists recommend that parents begin a good dental hygiene program for
their children at an early age. They are urged to start by wiping the
infants gums gently with a moistened soft cloth after each feeding and
avoid letting the children sleep with liquids that contain juices, milk
or other sweetened products. Visiting the pediatric or family dentist
can begin at around 1 year old for an oral examination.
Source: Reuter health news April 8th,1999. . . .Pediatric Dentistry 1999;
21:109-113
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