82% children in city have oral health issues: Survey

Hyderabad: The new national study by KANTAR IMRB for Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited reveals that 8 out of 10 children in India suffer from oral health issues, underscoring the need for immediate action. The survey revealed that as many as 2 out of 3 children have cavities or are at a high risk of developing them.

The survey was conducted by KANTAR IMRB among 2,030 adults and 1,080 children belonging to diverse socio-economic backgrounds across 12 cities in India, viz. Hyderabad, Delhi, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Pune, Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar and Patna. The study was conducted at Colgate dental camps in these cities, each with two dentists, along with representatives from KANTAR IMRB.

The study also highlights that the high incidence of oral health issues in children was recorded across the country - Hyderabad (82%), East India (89%), West India (88%), North India (85%) and South India (64%). Some of the large cities also exhibited a high incidence of oral health issues- Mumbai (90%), Kolkata (93%), Delhi (79%), Chennai (60%) and Bangalore (46%).

Some of the major oral health problems found in children surveyed include visible plaque accumulation, white spots on teeth, visible caries, gum inflammation, bad breath, and gum bleeding.

The study revealed that most children in India do not follow essential oral care practices such as brushing twice daily and regular dental check-up. More than 70% of children surveyed do not brush their teeth twice a day and more than 60% of them have not been taken to a dentist in the past year. Around 44% of children surveyed need major dental treatments such as restoration, root canal or an extraction.

Expressing concern about the insights brought up by the survey, Dr Meenakshi S Kher, Member, The Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry (ISPPD) stated, "Most parents don't know that milk teeth in a child need to be cared for from the time they erupt in the baby's mouth.

These teeth contribute significantly to the toddler's overall growth, allowing the child to chew nutritious food while encouraging adequate development of the jaws. This lays the foundation for strong permanent teeth and a healthy smile. The high incidence of cavities and oral health problems in children has its roots in poor care of milk teeth."

Key takeaways

1. 2 out of 3 children in India either has cavities or are at a high risk of developing them
2. Only 7% of parents in India proactively took their children for a routine dental check-up in the past year
3. 7 out 10 children in India did not visit a dentist in the past year
4. 81% suffer from a major oral health problem
5. 68% suffer from cavities or are at a high risk of having them
6. A majority of children surveyed do not brush their teeth twice daily
7. Among children who brush once in a day, 82% face a major oral health problem and 69% have cavities or are at risk of having them
8. Children who eat sweetened products daily, 81% suffer from a major oral health problem and 67% have cavities or are at risk of having them
9. About 44% of children surveyed need vital dental treatments such as restoration, root canal or an extraction.

Adults not far behind

1. About 9 out of 10 adults surveyed suffer from a major oral health problem
2. More than 76% of adults in India either have cavities or are at a high risk of developing them.
3. More than 7 out of 10 adults surveyed claimed to have healthy teeth. Among them, 89% suffer from a major oral health problem, 77% have cavities or are at risk of having them.
4. Among adults who brush only once daily, 95% of them have oral health problems and 83% have cavities or are at a high risk of developing them.
5. 6 out of 10 adults surveyed did not visit a dentist in the past year. Among them, 90% have oral health problems and about 80% have cavities or are at a high risk of developing them.
6. A majority of adults surveyed need vital dental treatments such as restoration, root canal or an extraction.