12 Apr 2019

Tooth decay in kiwi pre-schoolers

From Afternoons, 1:14 pm on 12 April 2019

Two-fifths of pre-schoolers in Northland and Auckland have dental cavities a new study has found.

The study, released in the New Zealand Medical Journal today, looked at school dental records of kids in the Northern North Island from 2014-2015. About 40 per cent of the children had decayed, missing or filled tooth surfaces in their baby teeth. 

And the University of Auckland researchers discovered the prevalence was higher in Māori and Pacific children. 

Dr David Crum, chief executive of the New Zealand Dental Association, explains why this decay is so high.

Tooth decay

Tooth decay Photo: AFP