Rates of tooth decay in the Wimmera region continue to soar and experts say a lack of access to fluoridated drinking water is a major contributor.
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Alarming statistics from Dental Health Services Victoria showed Wimmera has higher rates of untreated tooth decay for most ages groups when compared with the state average.
Figures show almost 60 pert cent of 18 to 24 year-olds have untreated tooth decay compared with the state average of 50 per cent for the same age group.
The analysis by the state’s leading dental health body found 65 per cent of 25 to 44 year-olds have untreated tooth decay compared to the Victorian average of 55 per cent.
The statistics reflect a statewide trend of rural areas having a higher than average prevalence of tooth decay and dental health problems.
However, Wimmera youngsters are bucking the trend. Statistics revealed children up to the age of five were measuring lower rates of untreated tooth decay (15 per cent) compared to the state average (20 per cent).
Dental Health Services Victoria estimated there are more than 300,000 people (114,000 children and 186,000 adults) residing in the Western Victoria Public Health Network eligible for public oral health services. The number reflects about half of the total Public Health Network population.
But the dental service reported only about a third of the eligible population in the Western Victoria Public Health Network access care at a public dental clinic. Dentist at Horsham Plaza Dental Centre Doctor Amita Gupta said a major factor influencing the region’s poor dental health was lack of access to fluoride in water supplies.
“Adding fluoride to water prevents tooth decay but many people may chose to drink rain water instead so they are missing out on a very simple measure which can help improve their dental health,” she said.
Other contributors included high rates of consumption of sugary drinks and lack of access to dental services.
“The high rates of decay can also be attributed to high waiting lists for public patients seeking dental health care,” Dr Gupta said. “In many cases lack of finances to pay costs for dental care will also deter people.”
She said among the easiest ways to improve dental hygiene was cutting back consumption of sugary drinks, increasing fluoridated water intake, regularly brushing teeth and scheduling annual dental check-ups.
