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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…

Read more via Reducing the global burden of poor oral health through school-based programmes | International Journal of Epidemiology | Oxford Academic