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This is the VOA SpecialEnglish SCIENCE REPORT.
A new report examines the problem of tooth and gum disease in theUnited States. It found that many Americans are not doing enough tocare for their teeth. The report says the biggest problems are thelack of dental health care for all Americans and the lack ofservices to prevent disease.
A group called Oral Health America in Chicago, Illinois, releasedthe findings. It used information from recent government studies toprepare the report. The group's leader says the report shows thenation needs to be more concerned about the oral health of itscitizens.
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One major problem is tooth decay.Bacteria in the mouth act on sugars that remain on the teeth aftereating. This action creates acid that damages the tooth. The damageappears as a hole in the tooth called a cavity. The part of thetooth that has been destroyed by the acid is called tooth decay.
There are many reasons for diseases of the teeth and gums. Thereport says many areas in the United States fail to add enoughfluoride to public drinking water. It notes that ten states failedto provide fluoridated water for at least fifty percent of theirpopulation. Fluoride is an element found in rocks and minerals.Drinking fluoridated water is one of the best ways to prevent toothdecay.
The report shows that many Americans do not have their teethexamined by a dentist or trained expert. In most states, one-thirdor more of the citizens failed to visit a dentist at least once lastyear.
In addition, a person's earnings seemed to have a major effect onthe services received. Poor people are less likely to visit adentist. More than one-hundred-million American adults and childrendo not have insurance to help pay for treatment by a dentist.
One area of progress is increased public understanding of oralhealth issues. The report notes that several states now employdental health directors. Oral Health America says the increasedunderstanding is partly a result of American Surgeon General DavidSatcher. Two years ago, he released a report on the importance oforal health.
His report noted that more than thirty-thousand Americans developcancers in the mouth or throat every year. It also found that toothdecay is the most common disease among American children. Fiftypercent of all six-year-old children already have tooth decay.
This VOA Special English SCIENCE REPORT was written by GeorgeGrow.