The address determines whether your child has cavities

Few parents think that their place of residence may influence whether their children have tooth decay or not. A new Danish study shows that there is a significant correlation between children's and young people's residence and the risk of caries (tooth decay), writes Tandlægebladet.

Fluoride concentration in the tap water that comes out of taps in the home can have a decisive influence on their children's caries. Children who live in Jutland, has twice as likely to have cavities as children who live in the southeastern part of Zealand and Lolland-Falster, Moen and Bornholm, where fluoride concentrations are highest.

There are significant differences in fluoride concentration in drinking water, depending on where you are in the country. If you live as a child or young in an area where a high concentration of fluoride in drinking water, it may mean that the risk of tooth decay can be half as large as in an area where the fluorine content is low - for example in West Jutland where the risk of tooth decay is up to twice as large as the areas where the fluoride concentration is highest. The more fluoride in the water, the fewer holes.
The survey was conducted among 48,351 children in the 5-year age and 43,848 15-year-olds across the country.

Here you can see what the fluoride content in drinking water is in your area. Click on the image to see larger photo.

Read more in Tandlægebladet No. 6 2010 or www.tandlaegebladet.dk