Tooth Decay termed as a major health issue worldwide

According to a study published in the Journal of Dental Research, more than 2.4bn people have untreated tooth decay across the globe. Experts have raised concerns over neglect to this level when many ways do exist to treat and prevent it.

Dental decay often causes severe pain, infections and problems with child growth. Tooth decay is triggered when acids in the mouth begin dissolving the outer layers of teeth.

As many as 378 studies involving some 4.7m people between 1990 and 2010 were analyzed by Prof. Wagner Marcenes of Queen Mary University of London who led an international team of scientists. They deduced that 2.4bn people have untreated tooth decay in their permanent teeth and some 621m children have untreated decay in milk teeth.

After analyzing UK data, researchers estimated that a third of the population had untreated dental decay in 2010. The numbers were more than double in Lithuania, one of the hardest-hit countries.

The study shows occurrence of more than 190m new cases of dental decay every year. "It is alarming to see prevention and treatment of tooth decay has been neglected at this level. Tooth decay is a significant economic burden. And if left untreated, it leads to poor productivity at work and absenteeism in adults, and poor school attendance and performance in children", said Wagner.

Prof. Marcenes said there is a wrong notion in public that low levels of decay in childhood do not go through any adverse changes throughout life. There is also a need to devise policies that do not focus only on children for avoiding tooth decay.

Tooth decay is major public problem and requires attention of governments worldwide to have programs in place to deal with it, said Professor David Williams, an expert in global oral health at Queen Mary University of London.