(Ann Arbor, MI) — A new national poll shows more than one-in-three parents say their child has had dental problems in the last two years.
The C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health found poor hygiene habits were mostly to blame, mainly in kids who didn’t follow recommended brushing, flossing and rinsing practices. Researchers polled one-thousand, 800 parents with children aged 4 to 17 and found that 64-percent of parents say their child brushes twice daily and 60-percent say they brush for at least two minutes. A majority of parents said their child last saw a dentists within the past year, but over ten percent said it’s been longer than that.
The American Dental Association recommends children have a check-up every six months for early detection of tooth decay and learn about how to protect their teeth.