The oral health of parents is a major determining factor in that of their children, according to a new report released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).

 

The Families and their oral health report found that 17 per cent of Australian children had experienced ‘oral health impact’ in the previous 12 months – either a toothache or avoiding some foods because of oral problems.

 

A second report, Chronic conditions and oral health, shows that people with chronic conditions and diseases are considerably more likely to have dental health issues when compared with people who do not have any such illness.

 

For children who experienced an oral health impact, 23% had parents who also experienced an oral health impact in the same period.

 

For children who did not experience an oral health impact in the previous 12 months, 86% had parents who also had no oral health impacts.

 

“Children who experienced an oral health impact were also more likely to be from families who had difficulty paying a $150 dental bill,” said AIHW spokesperson Professor Kaye Roberts-Thomson.

 

“In addition these children were more likely to be from families whose parents avoided or delayed dental visits for themselves because of cost.”

 

The Chronic conditions and oral health report found that people with chronic conditions such as asthma, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, stroke, kidney disease, high blood pressure and depression were more likely than people who did not have these conditions to:

  • experience toothache;
  • be uncomfortable with their oral appearance;
  • avoid certain foods due to oral health problems;
  • have inadequate dentition (making it difficult to chew food); and
  • experience orofacial pain (pain in the mouth and/or face).