CDC report finds Americans have improved oral health

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Americans of all ages continue to experience improvement in their oral health. However, tooth decay in primary (baby) teeth has increased among children aged 2 to 5 years, from 24 percent to 28 percent.

The findings are based on data from CDC's National Center for Health Statistics. The report, "Trends in Oral Health Status-United States, 1988-1994 and 1999-2004," represents the most comprehensive assessment of oral health data available for the U.S. population to date.

The report noted significant improvements:

• The prevalence of tooth decay in permanent teeth decreased for children, teens and adults.
• More than one-third (38 percent) of children and teens aged 12 to 19 years had dental sealants, a plastic coating applied to teeth that protects against decay.
• Moderate and severe gum disease declined by 50 percent among adults aged 20 to 64 years, and by 10 percent for seniors aged 65 years and older.
• While strides are being made in the prevention of tooth decay, dental disease still remains a problem for some underserved groups: Thirty-one percent of Mexican American children aged 6 to 11 years had experienced decay in their permanent teeth, compared to 19 percent of non-Hispanic white children.
• Three times as many children aged 6 to 11 (12 percent) from families with incomes below the federal poverty line had untreated tooth decay, compared with children from families with incomes above the poverty line (4 percent).