Media Release
Date: 19th July 2010
Dental Decay Is An Infectious Disease Passed From Mothers To
Their Babies
The latest international research confirms that tooth decay is
an infectious disease passed from mothers to their children
reinforcing the message that oral health should be a family affair,
according to Dr Andrea Shepperson, lead dentist
at City Dental, Quay Park in Auckland, part of Lumino The Dentists,
New Zealand's only national dental healthcare organisation.
"We are encouraging mothers to be conscious of their own dental
health because it is clearly shown now to be a family affair.
Testing for this bacteria is a simple test which allows us to alert
parents to the potential risk of decay. I can take a swab and tell
my patients within 15 seconds if they are at risk from this kind of
tooth decay. Then we're well armed to help them counteract it. We
offer a wide range of products for all ages to mitigate the
risk."
The new study warns that the bacteria that cause tooth decay can
be transmitted from person-to-person, including mother-to-child.
Almost half of the mothers studied and more than a fourth of the
children and adolescents had untreated tooth decay.
One means of transmission could be from a mother tasting a
child's food and then using the same spoon to feed her child.
The findings underscore the need for family dentists to ask
about the oral health of other family members. The authors stress
that dentists should encourage all family members to get treatment,
especially if a child already has tooth decay, and provide the
family with the preventive measures, knowledge and skills to help
prevent future disease.
Dr Andrea Shepperson is a contributor to The Knowledge Bank on
easymix.co.nz