A recent national survey found that when it comes to kids with rotting teeth and cavities, California is one of the worst states in the nation.
Beverly Hills Dentist Dr. Mahnaz Rashti told KNX In Depth, the issue is bad and getting worse.
So, is it the Halloween candy? A lack of education?
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Dr. Rashti said it's all the typical reasons one might suspect - too many sweets and not enough dental care - but what's made things worse is, "Kids now are so much involved with the computer and with their cell phones. They get so involved that they forget about hygiene."
She said things started going downhill due, in part, to the pandemic, which increased the amount of time kids spent indoors, in front of screens, snacking on junk.
It's not just the kids who fell prey to dental degradation during this time. Dr. Rashti said many late teens and adults were neglecting dental care and hiding behind masks, "Now it's time to come out, and they are realizing how much damage has been caused."
Dr. Rashti warns that there's so much more than teeth at risk when dealing with dental neglect, "You know, diabetes is an inflammatory disease. The sugar does not just cause diabetes; it's also caused by the bacteria that is inside the mouth and causes gum disease," she said.
Ultimately, why California fared so poorly on the survey might not be all that important, but whether you're 5 or 85, it's clear that what is important - taking care of your teeth!
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