At least 8 out of 10 children in India suffer from oral health issues, underscoring the need for immediate action.

A new national study by KANTAR IMRB for Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited revealed that some of the major oral health problems found in children surveyed include visible plaque accumulation, white spots on teeth, visible caries, gum inflammation, bad breath and gum bleeding.
 

The survey revealed that as many as 2 out of 3 children have cavities or are at a high risk of developing them. The study also highlighted that around 9 out of 10 adults surveyed suffer from a major oral health problem. The study highlights that the high incidence of oral health issues in children was recorded across the country - East India (89 per cent), West India (88 per cent), North India (85 per cent) and South India (64 per cent). Some of the large cities also exhibited high incidence oforal health issues- Mumbai (90 per cent), Kolkata (93 per cent), Hyderabad (82 per cent ), Delhi (79 per cent), Chennai (60 per cent) and Bangalore (46 per cent).

Another finding from the survey was the significant difference between the actual dental health condition of children and the state of their oral health as believed by their parents. This evident disparity is mostly driven by low awareness about how crucial oral health is to their children’s overall wellness. At least 8 out of 10 parents surveyed believed that their children have healthy teeth, while a dental examination found that around 80 per cent of those children actually suffer from at least one oral health problem.

This gap between reality and parents’ perception of their children’s oral health is most prominent in Kolkata (92 per cent), followed by Mumbai (88 per cent) and Hyderabad (80 per cent).