Are fewer and fewer children among its and 12 years who have dental caries. At least that's indicating the preliminary data from the Third National Study of Prevalence of Oral Diseases, presented as part of World Health Day.
According to the study, 60% of children under six years has not decay, a number that rose 9% compared to 2006 and 27% compared to 2000. However there are still some inequalities between different parts of the country, with the center zone to be the one with more children with cavities: 53%. North with 46% It follows, Lisbon and Tagus Valley with 40%, with 34% Algarve and Alentejo with 29%.
In relation to children 12 years, Cristina Cádima, the National Program for Promotion of Oral Health, the Health General Directorate, said that 56% had no caries and is also the center area with the worst results, with 51% of children this age without decay, followed by the north with 53%, Algarve and Lisbon and Tagus Valley with 58% and Alentejo with 53%.
The study also evaluated the DMF index (mean number of teeth with caries, missing or filled children present) and here too there have been improvements. As the program begins at age six, the index focused on children 12 years and it was noticed that each had an average of 0.77 teeth decayed, missing or filled, when in 2006 the figure stood at 1.48 . For this index, the target set by the World Health Organisation, to be achieved by 2020, corresponding to 1.50, so that Portugal has surpassed the goal.
At the close of the conference, the Health Minister Paulo Macedo said schools as "authentic institutions promoting oral health" and announced that the SOBE project, intervening in school libraries, won the World Dental Hygienist Awards.
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This study says that in Portugal there are 40 children in 100 with tooth decay, ie almost half of Portuguese children have tooth decay at six years of age.
The almost absolute disregard to combat the scourge of this infectious disease early in life can be noted in the near absence of a true health policy primary care for early childhood in the country.
It is extremely dramatic attend a European Union country has almost half of its children with dental caries, before entering the first cycle of basic education.
Heartbreaking compare recent data with years in which the number of children far exceeded; the dramatic effect of reducing the birth rate is the direct result of the destruction of social rights and that will create serious problems of inter-generational sustainability.
Today palms will be replaced by moans very soon.
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