90% of Saudi children have tooth decay, says expert

RIYADH: Some 90 percent of children are suffering from tooth decay in some parts of the Kingdom, with the Eastern Province having the lowest rates of infection, an expert told attendees at an oral hygiene event in Riyadh.
Dr. Salwa Al-Sadhan, head of Community Service at King Saud University’s Faculty of Medicine, said this at the event which focused on the importance of oral health.
She said that students of the Faculty of Medicine are repeatedly visiting schools to spread awareness of oral health among students and to show them how to properly brush their teeth to prevent decay.
Earlier, Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Moamer, the executive director of the Medical City at King Saud University, stressed the importance of oral health as it is an essential element for maintaining a person’s overall health and quality of life.
Al-Moamer said that between 60 and 90 percent of school children are suffering from tooth decay across the world.
Meanwhile, experts said there are many factors that may lead to the occurrence of oral diseases including eating unhealthy food, use of tobacco, and not cleaning one’s teeth on daily basis.
According to data from the World Health Organization, between 15 and 20 percent of adults aged 30 to 44 years are likely lose some of their teeth throughout their life, while 30 percent of 65 to 70 year olds are likely to lose all their teeth at some stage.