HANOI, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) — Over 90 percent of Vietnamese suffer from dental diseases, according to the National Hospital of Odonto-Stomatology on Wednesday.
A survey carried out by the hospital showed that some 85 percent of Vietnamese children aged 6 to 8 have decayed baby teeth, while 54.6 percent in the 9-11 age group have permanent tooth decay, local online newspaper Vietnam News quoted the survey as saying.
The survey found that two-thirds of children aged between 6 and 14 never had a dental check-up while 100 percent of primary school students are not in the habit of brushing their teeth three times a day.
The number of people suffering dental caries increases in accordance with their age, said the hospital, adding that gum disease and dental inflammation are the most common oral diseases that cause teeth loss in people over 45.
In Vietnam, there is one dentist for 25,000 people, whereas in developed countries the rate is one per 1,000-2,000 people, reported Vietnam News.