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Globally, dental caries and gingivitis negatively impact upon the health and quality of life of countless children.1,2 Caries is the commonest preventable infectious disease affecting children worldwide.3 The causal agent, Streptococcus mutans, thrives in an acidic environment where sugar is available.4 Bacteria are trapped in deposits of plaque on the gum line and cause gum inflammation and chronic periodontal disease.
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Factors predisposing children to this health burden include poverty, poor nutrition and a lack of knowledge about the relevance of oral health and how to clean their teeth as a preventive measure. Those from disadvantaged populations suffer disproportionally, yet much of the pathology and…
