Alarming Rise in Baby Tooth Extractions Due to Severe Decay

Addressing Dental Decay Epidemic Among Young Children in Ireland

IRELAND: A leading Irish dentist has revealed a disturbing trend of extracting multiple baby teeth from children as young as two years old due to severe tooth decay. Dr. Catherine Gallagher, Vice-President of the Irish Dental Council and an oral surgeon at Cork University Dental School, has sounded the alarm on this alarming dental health crisis affecting infants and toddlers.

According to Dr. Gallagher, it has become a daily occurrence to extract eight, nine, or even ten teeth from children aged five, six, or seven years old. In extreme cases, she has removed up to 20 baby teeth from a single child as young as two years old. “We’re doing a lot of extractions,” she stated grimly.

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Dental Decay: A Preventable Problem

Dr. Gallagher emphasized that dental decay is an “almost entirely preventable problem” directly linked to the consumption of sugary foods and drinks. She explained, “Dental decay is almost entirely preventable… it is linked pretty much exclusively to how, when and how often we eat sugar.”

The culprit behind the decay is the bacteria in the mouth that feed on sugar, producing acid that attacks and erodes tooth enamel. Frequent consumption of sugary items prevents the mouth from recovering to a healthy state, leading to rapid tooth decay.

While parents are often “surprised” when their children develop tooth decay, Dr. Gallagher stressed the importance of educating them about the dangers of sugary drinks, including fruit juices. She highlighted the need for early intervention, stating, “Before children get teeth is the best time to prevent the problem. You have time to avoid developing the bad habits in the first place, and it’s much easier not to acquire a bad habit than it is to change it and give it up.”

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Traumatic Experience for All

The extraction of multiple baby teeth is a “traumatic experience for everybody involved,” according to Dr. Gallagher. Children often experience pain and difficulty eating after the procedure, adding to the emotional distress. She emphasized the urgency of addressing this preventable issue through better education and preventive measures.

With alarming numbers of young children undergoing extensive dental work, the dental community is calling for heightened awareness and proactive measures to combat this epidemic of severe tooth decay in infants and toddlers.